THE
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCH(OL MAGAZINE
September 2001
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 117th year No. 239 (New Series 106th year No. 230)
September 2001
Vol 104
The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club each year General Editor & Editor of Notes etc.
Brian K. Crookshanks, T.D., M.A., LL.B. 99 Fountainhall Road Aberdeen AB15 4EB
Secretary of the FP Club
John F. Hendry, LL.B. 36 Albyn Place Aberdeen AB10 1YF
Treasurer of the FP Club
Alan W. Marr, C.A. 4 West Craibstone Street, Aberdeen
Membership Secretary
Mrs Whilma Jeffrey, The Willows, Dalmuinzie Road, Bieldside, Aberdeen AB15 9EB
The General Editor is happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before mid-May 2002 Former Pupils are encouraged to make use of the insert regarding Notes, Marriages etc., to provide details about themselves or others Information may also be sent by Fax to 01224-640526 or by E-mail to briancrookshanks@lineone.net In order to assist in the distribution of the Magazine, members of the Former Pupils' Club are requested to advise the Membership Secretary promptly of any changes of address
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Contents page School Section Rector's Report School Office-Bearers School Prizes 2000-2001 Extra-Curricular Activities School Sports Clubs Clubs & Societies Face the Music: "Bye Bye Birdie" Charities Group Young Scientists, Business People & Enterprise Home Economics Social Functions School Board Parent Teacher Association The Phil Love Trophy
4 5 5 8 8 16 21 23 25 26 27 27 27 28
General Section The All Round Trophy Our Five SRU Presidents A Greenhorn in the Rockies Swabbing the Decks on Stavros S. Niarchos
30 35 38 41
Former Pupils' Club Section Club Office-Bearers 2001-02 Club Consuls Annual General Meeting President's Report Presidential Profile Centre Reports Club Centre Canada Edinburgh Glasgow London Yorkshire Sports Section Reports Annual Dinner Re-unions Club Membership Subscriptions Notes about Former Pupils Marriages Obituaries Abstract of Accounts
43 45 45 48 49 53 53 55 57 57 58 58 61 68 71 73 74 83 85 100
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
School Section Rector's Report Perhaps one of the major events of the session was the consultation exercise undertaken by Aberdeen City Council into the naming of secondary schools, particularly the possible renaming of Aberdeen Grammar School. Questionnaires were issued to staff, pupils and parents throughout the City's schools and, of the 25,861 questionnaires issued. 9.177 were returned. No constituency favoured a name change and the aggregated figures showed that 51.9% of those responding stated that the name should not be changed whilst 35.5% felt that it should. The clear outcome was an uncontested verdict that the name of Aberdeen Grammar School should be retained, news greeted with justified relief by all in the school and by FPs everywhere. Meanwhile of course school life continued despite the major traumatic effect of SQA difficulties which emerged last August and provided an anxious start to the session. Although relatively few pupils were affected here, it mattered hugely to those left in doubt and nationally, lingering doubts have a destabilising effect on the whole system. Hopefully. complete confidence will be restored this year but in any event our school results have been both successful and encouraging. Within our development programmes priorities have centred on the extension of curricular provision S5/6 by the phased introduction of Advanced Higher courses replacing Certificate of Sixth Year Studies and generally ensuring compliance with all of the assessment requirements of Higher Still courses. Another priority area has been S1/2 where we have placed more emphasis on national testing, introduced timetabling rotas to reduce fragmentation in any one week, and slightly rearranged our reporting format in line with national guidance. Beyond the curriculum the extent of extra-curricular participation and range of achievement remain extremely high, thanks to the continued support and commitment from staff. Some of the highlights include our Head Boy Niall Methven being one of only six UK finalists in the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards, Patrick Emerson's selection for the Scottish Debating Team which went on to finish second in the World Debating Championships in South Africa, our Young Enterprise team winning the Grampian competition and proceeding to the national final, and our Young Consumer of the Year Quiz team who travel to the British final as one of two teams representing Scotland. In addition there has been a catalogue of team and individual success in sport, music, drama and other activities, some of which at least will feature later in the Magazine. I am glad and proud to conclude that Aberdeen Grammar School continues to project a very successful brand name.
WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON
Aberdeen Grammar School June. 2001
Rector
4
School Section
School Office-Bearers Session 2000-2001 Head Boy: MALL A.G. METHVEN Depute Head Boy: STUART D. STILL
Head Girl: GEMMA K. REID Depute Head Girl: HAZEL S. WILKINSON
S6 Prefects:
RICHARD C. T. ALLAN SCOTT ANNISON NICHOLAS B. R. BAXTER PAUL J. DEAR CHRISTOPHER FLINT DAVID M. INGLIS ADAM K. LEITH WILLIAM W. M. LIDDELL RICCARDO E. MARIONI LUKE SUMMERS CHARLES E. G. THOMAS
VICTORIA C. BUTLER LUCY G. DAVIES JENNIFER S. GANE MONICA C. HAZLETT FIONA L. LEMON JENNIFER MacRAE LAUREN McGREGOR SOPHIE A. MILLINGTON NASEEM NEKONAM HELEN L. PATMORE KIRSTEN L. SCOTT CATRIONA G. SINCLAIR HANNAH M. R. WATT SARAH C. WATTLE CHRISTINE A .M. WEDDELL
Si Prefects: JONATHAN P. BRODIE MICHAEL R. CAMPBELL KYLE J. COETZER PATRICK R. EMERSON JAMES P. ENGWALL STEWART P. JUROSZEK COLIN A. McARTHUR AVINASH REDDY RYAN C. SWAN DAVID TAYLOR CRAIG R. TOPP
KATHRYN E. BOOTH DIANNE BRIDGEFORD JOANNA M. DICKSON HELEN M. GRAHAM RACHELLE M. GROGAN AILSA E. HERBERT FIONA V. MACKAY EMILY V. MONTGOMERY FIONA H. MORRICE LYNSEY S. MORRISON CLAIRE MURPHY ALICE E. RATCLIFFE KIRSTEN A. RIACH JOANNE SMITH PHILIPPA C. SMITH
School Prizes 2000-2001 The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Biology The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Chemistry The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Computer Studies The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Geography The Former Pupils' Club Prize in German The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Home Economics The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Modem Studies The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Physical Education The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Physics 5
Equal Equal
•
Jonathan Brodie Luke Summers Patrick Emerson Rachel Grogan Claire Murphy James Engwall Rebecca Jones Monica Hazlett Struan Robertson Jonathan Brodie
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Religious Education The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Spanish The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Technical Subjects The Samuel Pope Prize in Art The Arthur L. McCombie Prize in Art History The Donald Paton Prize for Painting The John Muir Robertson Prize in Business Studies The ALBA Trophy in Business Management The Gordon McMinn Prize in Computing Studies The Masson Bain Prize in English The William Brebner Prize in French The German Consulate Prize The Charles Alexander Walker Prize for History The Jenny C. Archibald Prize in Home Economics The Campbell Connon Prize for Local Studies The Derek Stewart Memorial Prize in Mathematics The Alexander Thomson Prize in Mathematics (S3) The Hamish Adams Greig Prize in Mathematics and Science in S5 The J. Mortimer McBain Prize for Proficiency in Mathematic in S5 or S6 Equal The George G. Whyte Prize in Mathematics in S6 Equal The Gavin Falconer Memorial and Former Pupils' Club Prize in Music The Dr J. Minto Robertson Prize in Shakespearean Studies The Alastair G. Simon Memorial Prize in Spanish The Bon Accord Metal Prize in Technological Studie Equal The May Thomson Scottish Poetry Prize Equal The Lions Club School Community Service Award Equal The Caritas Cup Equal The Aberdeen Grammar School Dramatic Society Award for outstanding contribution to Drama Winner The Aberdeen Grammar School Junior Literary Runner-up & Debating Competition Winner The Rector's Shield for outstanding contribution to Runner-up running the Literary & Debating Society Equal The Aberdeen University Schools' Debating Shield Equal The Edith & David Bishop Prize for Public Speaking Senior and Debating Junior The Sir J.J. Robertson Award for outstanding Contribution to the School Newspaper
The Andrew Middleton McLaren Prize for Enterprise The Philip Love Trophy The Aberdeen Grammar School "Face the Music" Award for an outstanding performance in the School's Musical Production
6
Equal Equal Equal Equal Equal
Equal Equal
Lindsey Brown Claire Murphy Adam K. Leith Alistair Allan Laura Davidson Fiona McKay Paul Dear Paul Dear James Costello Sarah Jones Helen Graham Claire Murphy Lynsey Morrison Christine Shaw Jennifer MacRae Heather Cowie Anna John Jonathan Brodie Jonathan Brodie Christine Weddell Garry Angus HeLen Graham Philippa Smith Tara Klein Matthew Eyre Rose Grogan Laura Grant Fiona Lemon Jennifer Gane Catriona Sinclair Christine Weddell Rose Grogan Marianne Milne Sarah Jones Patrick Emerson Sarah Jones Patrick Emerson Patrick Emerson Sarah Jones William Jones Imogen Begg Lucy Davies Melanie Duncan Jennifer Shaw Niall Methven Stuart Still James Florance Patrick Emerson Sarah Jones Colin McArthur
School Section Sports Awards Grampian Schools' Basketball Trophy The Neil Meldrum Inter-House Rugby Trophy - SI Dun The Former Pupils' Inter-House Rugby Cup Dun The Former Pupils' Junior Rugby Cup Byron The Former Pupils' House Hockey Cup Keith The Isobel 0. Anderson Medal for Swimming The Girls' Cup for Swimming The Rector's Medal for Swimming The Dr Morland Simpson Cup for Swimming The Former Pupils' Club Rugby Football Section Trophy The School Inter-House Football Trophy Dun The Ronald MacKinnon Trophy for Athletics All-Round Awards The David Alexander Irvine-Fortescue Prize - S2 The Norman Mackie Memorial Award in S3 for a pupil outstanding in scholarship, conduct & sportsmanship The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Award in S3 The Former Pupils' Club Certificate of Merit
The Former Pupils' Club "1965" Award for the greatest Contribution to the life of the School The Runner-up to the Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy for Girls The Runner-up to the Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy & the Agnes Durward McDonald Prize The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy for Girls The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy & the John Ivo Dawson Prize
Jennifer MacRae Gemma Reid Graham McKay Craig Blyth Rory MacRae James Engwall Craig Topp Emma E. Taylor Craig Topp Emma E. Taylor Niall Methven James McEwen Joel Klein
Rose Grogan Tam Klein Martin Pringle Sophie Millington Catriona Sinclair Nicholas Baxter Stuart Still Jennifer Gane James Florance Luke Summers Christine Weddell Luke Summers Gemma Reid Niall Methven
Colours Awards Sport Basketball Cricket Football
Half Colours Junior Colours Full Colours Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours
Hockey
Full Colours
Half Colours
Claire Fryer, Rachel Hudson, Claire Murphy Tara Klein, Katie McArthur, Lynne Wightman lain Brand, Kyle Coetzer Steven Ross Nicholas Baxter, Raymond Lee, James McEwen, Stuart McIntyre, Stephen Massie, John Roach Daniel Law, Colin Shaw, Callum Sinclair, Callum Thomas Richard Allan, David Anderson, lain Brand, Andrew Goodenough, Darren Greene, Luke Summers, Jennifer Gane, Jennifer MacRae, Sophie Millington, Lynsey Morrison, Lynsey Robertson, Christine Weddell John Schmitz, Victoria Butler, Melanie Duncan, Kathryn Goodenough, Lorna Hendry, Emily Montgomery, Claire Murphy, Kirsten Scott, Catriona Sinclair 7
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Junior Colours
Rugby
Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours
Ski-ing Swimming
Half Colours Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours
Anna Campbell, Chloe Fitzgerald, Anna Hazlett, Tara Klein, Katie McArthur, Lucy Nicoll, Hollie Taylor, Lynne Wightman Niall Methven. David Taylor Stewart Juroszek, Andrew Lessels, Mark McMillan, Charles Thomas, Douglas Younger Craig Blyth, Kristoffer Hurst, Andrew Leighton. Nicholas Rose Laura Wood Craig Topp, Nathan Whitcombe Stuart Lamont Nikki Grant
Extra-Curricular Debating
`Face the Music'
Full Colours Half Colours Jun. Colours Half Colours
Jun. Colours Music
Full Colours Half Colours Jun. Colours
Patrick Emerson. Sarah Jones Colin McArthur, Helen Graham William Jones. Greg Topp, Imogen Begg James Engwall, Colin McArthur, Kathryn Booth, Sarah Jones, Emily Montgomery, Naseem Nekonam, Joanne Smith Colin Shaw, Callum Sinclair, Andrew Wilson. Amy Lennox Scott Annison, Adam Leith, Christine Weddell Michael Campbell, Colin McArthur. Helen Graham. Ailsa Herbert Malcolm MeLeish, Neil MacNeil, Judith Herbert
Extra-Curricular Activities School Sports Clubs Basketball Now in its twenty-fourth year, the Greywolf basketball club continues to flourish and remains a prominent part of the School sporting scene. The performance aspect of the club, as always, relies on regular and planned training sessions, and these occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm in the Grammar gym for S3 and S4. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 pm at St. Machar Academy for S4, S5 and S6. Lunchtime shooting sessions for all ages are also held on a Tuesday and Friday in the School gym. Occasional specialist and squad training sessions are held on a Saturday afternoon at St. Machar Academy, Success has been achieved this season at a number of levels, both on a team and an individual basis. Several of the junior players (U- 15) have been involved in North Regional tournaments throughout the season and have performed very well against similar teams from Inverness and Dundee. As a result of these tournaments Lynne Wightman, Tara Klein. Lucy Arrowsmith and Gillian Clark were chosen for the North Regional Squad to compete in the National Selection Tournament to be held later this year. The U-15 junior team were also involved in a successful Scottish Cup run, which saw fine performances and victories over Arbroath High School (78-32), Culloden High School (55-53) and Charleston Academy (49-38). The run finally came to an end at the semi-final stage when a gallant and courageous effort just failed to get the better of Gryffe High School (58 - 64), who were to be the eventual winners of the trophy. At the local school level the U-15s were virtually invincible, and comfortably won the league with an unbeaten record. This was to be followed by the junior cup, although our opponents and closest rivals, The International School of Aberdeen, gave a very good account of themselves in the final, making for a very competitive and hard-fought game. 8
School Section The Senior team were involved in a much more competitive school league and narrowly lost the league mainly due to the magnificent games against the International School which both resulted in one point losses. They did, however, gain some consolation by winning the Senior Schools Cup in a tremendously close and hard fought battle, again against the ISA, eventually winning the final by a two point margin. Next year the club is hoping to continue its success and possibly enter a team in the Junior National League to try and gain experience at a higher and more competitive level. The training will continue to be based at the two campuses and it is hoped that the current crop of SI players, who have been playing in fun tournaments throughout the year, will come along on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in order to ensure that the club has a few more years to add to its already illustrious history. Boys' Hockey - First XI Picture the scene. It is a warm, sunny Autumn day with the sun beating down - what a day for a game of hockey and how unusual. It was Robert Gordon's 25th Anniversary Tournament and the test run of the new I st XI. It was going to be a tough day at the office. However, we managed to cruise through to the final, with a deserved 3-0 victory on penalties against George Watson's. In the final we faced the 'Auld Enemy', Robert Gordon's, who were firm favourites to win the game. They had home advantage and a few fans - well, parents - cheering for them. Yet again we managed to secure the game, winning 3-0 on penalties. It was a good start to the season - one tournament played - one won. We hoped the form would continue for the rest of the season. We played a number of 'friendly' matches this year. However, after an embarrassing mauling of 5-1 by Watson's it was decided to change the formation. The new-look team found instant success with a convincing 9-0 win against Dundee High School, in which Andrew Goodenough got 7 and Darren Green got 1 but was also sin-binned for allegedly pushing the goal-keeper. Richard Allan, Luke Summers, lain Brand and Kyle Coetzer dominated midfield and also set a pattern for the rest of the season. Our next match was against Gordonstoun, where we expected to have a hard game. The defence had more action in this game, and Michael Campbell, John Schmidt, James Florance and David Taylor began to work as a unit. Mention should also be made of Vito Govil who was prepared to be substitute on most occasions and was given limited time on the field. This game was won 2-0. The Scottish Schools Cup was a new competition for us, having previously been involved in the Scottish Youth competition, and our first match was against Ellon. The game was played in atrocious conditions and we were lucky to get the match completed before the snow completely covered the pitch. We went in 0-0 at half time, but after the usual team talk from Mr Swanson we eventually won 2-0. We went to the quarter-final game against Robert Gordon's with some confidence, and with David Taylor restored in defence we won quite easily in the end by 5-0, Andrew Goodenough claiming all five goals despite one rather wicked deflected shot. The semi-final proved to be a disappointment, when we were beaten 3-2 by Morgan Academy from Dundee, despite our having managed to lead twice. However, the team played well with our goals coming from Luke Summers and Andrew Goodenough. The final, played the following week, gave us the chance to play the other semi-finalist of the Saturday before - Strathallan. This game was possibly the most controversial of the year, with the final outcome only being decided in the last few minutes. After a no-scoring first half we went into the lead through Andrew again, and proceeded to dominate play. We went 2-0 up - this time from Darren. We looked as if we were at last going to beat a Strathallan team for the first time in many years. Unfortunately, we lost David Taylor to injury late in the game and Strathallan got back to 2-2, and finally got a late winner to finish 3 - 2. I would like to finish by thanking Mr Swanson and all who have helped, especially Ben and Chris Johnson, who have helped umpire most of the games, for the continual support and effort they have put into the team, turning up in all weathers to watch us play sometimes not as well as we would have liked to do. 9
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Boys' Hockey - Second XI This year has been a mixed season of highs and lows in terms of results but all members of the team have showed good sportsmanship throughout. The team this year was made up mainly of players from 4th Year, along with a small number from 5thYear, of whom only Grant Morrison has played regularly. The season started positively with a 1-0 victory in a friendly against Westhill, with an excellent goal scored by Craig Topp. Westhill deserved credit as they were a very young team and put up stiff competition, giving us a good match. Next we played MBC 'A', and although we put up a valiant effort in the early stages they were in the end far too strong for us, running out 9-1 winners. Then it was a match against Robert Gordon's. We expected to win after defeating them twice last year, once with only 9 men and no goalkeeper, but they were a fitter, stronger and much more organised side than ourselves, and beat us 4-1 despite our having more of the possession. Then we played MBC again, except that this time we faced their 'B' team. We were particularly well organised and ran rampant, winning 4-2 in the end, with a goal scored by Lee Moir and a hat trick scored by our captain, Andrew Pringle. It was certainly the best performance by the team all crason. After the Christmas break we played Watson's at Chris Anderson Stadium. It was another good performance by the team, but we should have won the game in the first half when they played very badly. We only got one goal, while they improved steadily, scoring an equaliser in the second half. Then it was the turn of Gordonstoun to come down and play us. We had achieved a brilliant away victory last season, but this time we faced a different team, older and fitter than last time and we were crushed 8-1. Dundee High school came up to play us next in very muddy conditions. They played hit and chase hockey while we tried to play Astroturf hockey on a grass pitch and we lost heavily as a result 6-0, a disastrous game against Gordon's in which we lost all our shape and did not work for each other, and as a result we played terribly. The final game of the season was against Strathallan, when we had the 5th years Michael Kelly, Scott Fraser and Grant Morrison all playing for us. This made an obvious difference, with a much more professional performance, and we ended the first half 1-0 in front. A brilliant, yet rather flukey, goal scored in the second half by Strathallan drew the match level and we were caught on the break in the dying seconds of the match, losing a goal as a result and the match as well. I would like to praise a number of players who have done particularly well this season. Stuart Munn and Alastair Rushworth, who only started playing hockey this mason, are now a vital part of the team. Peter Zanre and Billy Wong, both good players before, have also improved greatly over the season, each developing a high skill level and a good passing ability. Peter Zanre's goals have been vital to the team and everyone will be sorry to see him leave at the end of the season along with Matthew Morris and George Robertson, who have both been good goalkeepers for the team during the year. Good luck to them in the future. I want to single out for special mention two players who have been superb all season. The first is Jory French who has been a giant in defence. He is a great player, with lots of skill and a very powerful hit, especially when it rises off the ground and hits you in the chest as it did to me. His determination is very admirable, and he never gives up. He has made a great contribution to both school and FP teams throughout the season, missing very few matches. The other player I want to single out is Grant Morrison. It has been very hard for him this season, playing in an almost all-4th year team, and he has not always been welcomed by all members, which is unacceptable and one of my major regrets. His temperament has not always been good on the pitch, but his massive presence in midfield and defence, preventing goals as well as helping to score them, has been invaluable. His performance in the second Gordon's game deserves special mention, as he had received some stick before the game, but during it he was the only player who was really playing out there. This was a very mixed season and I think to improve results the team needs to play as a unit more often, which would be possible if more people turned up for training. Although one recognises the difficulty of this for some people, it is the only way to improve. 10
School Section Girls' Hockey The first full season of the third millennium bristled with activity. New teams took shape as seniors fought for positions, enthusiastic 3rd and 2nd years worked hard at improving their results, whilst the 1st years struggled hard with the concept that 'sign up means turn up'. The weather in the second term provoked a Global Freezing counter-theory. The season started with an invitation to a hockey tournament to celebrate Robert Gordon's College's 250th anniversary. The new 1st Xl did well to be runners up in their section, then fourth over-all. At the post match tea we wore 'Only 250?' badges, just to remind those college youngsters of who is boss in the antiquity department. The visit of Glasgow High 2nd Xl renewed old friendships, and our kind 6th years ensured that their sugar levels were significantly boosted on the eve of the match. We won 2-0. Travelling to Millburn Academy in Inverness with the boys' rugby team, we enjoyed a 2-1 win, which was neatly washed down with a pile of pies. The fixtures with Gordonstoun were enjoyed by those who could travel. We drew 1 -1 in November, but lost narrowly in March. Play on both occasions was celebrated with the ruthless tradition of serious shovelling of vast quantities from Mrs Miggin's pie shop in Keith. The 1st and 2nd XIs competed well in the Aberdeen fixtures, with excellent results against Albyn and St. Margaret's. Later, St Margaret's got their revenge in the cup, winning 1-0, despite our last minute pounding of the space beside the goal. Results were tighter against Gordon's this year, but our teams still tend to struggle on turf. The 1st Xl were semifinalists in both the indoor and outdoor cups, and also in the outdoor tournament. Congratulations go to Lynsey Robertson and Lynsey Morrison, who were selected to play for the North U-18 squad. Sophie Milllington was unfortunately too old at 18 to be picked. The 3rd years had some excellent results, losing very few goals now that they have a keeper in place. They reached the semi- final stages of the cup losing 0-1 to Gordon's, and were second in the 3rd year tournament. The enthusiastic 2nd years showed a great improvement over the year and had some good results, especially the 6-0 win over a local rival. The 1st years, however, remained an enipna. Over the season many girls signed up, but opted to play by proxy, rather than by turning up. On some weeks, we would have played short, but for the services of two 2nd years who specialised in getting their own match times wrong. Entry to the first year tournament could thus not be risked. The faithful four need seven reliable players for next year. We had another good and memorable season, despite a winter which even an All-Weather Pitch could not have foiled. The season was enhanced by the enthusiasm of Captain Sophie and the support of a fine 6th year, whose attendance and work ethic set an example for the rest. Sophie produced an excellent scrapbook of the season and the 6th years designed a terrific card. Both will be cherished. Let us now reflect on some Memorable Moments from 00-01. Phoning Ruth after the Alford cup win `Whaaaat's Up"; 5th years not going to hockey parties; adoring pictures with Olaf the pony, at Cia's party (girls, I'm worried about you)'; the spookily unkind janny and cleaner who wouldn't let us practice indoor hockey at Rosemount'; cheats phoning Mums on the bus for answers to the retro quiz - all for a bag of M&Ms'; Jenny's 'bus' sickness'; Kate's gastric fragility'; Christine's capacity'; Sophie, steps, ankles; 6th years dislike of squeaking 5th years (their voices have broken now)'; 5th years now going to hockey parties'; cancellation of Santa's mental hockey fest (big prizes)'. Lastly, thank you to Singapore Sari and Helen for all their help on Saturdays. Anyone who would like to coach or umpire is welcome on Saturdays at sunny Rubislaw - especially someone who would like the challenge of those proxy 1st years. Senior Football The senior football team went into this year's campaign with high hopes, with several players being experienced from last year's team. The exciting talents of Steven Ross and Stewart McLaren provided hope for a successful season with a solid foundation stemming from the defence and goalkeeper Steven Massie. II
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
The team was built on a strong defence, with the partnership of Vice-captain John Roach as sweeper and Raymond Lee as centre-half developing into one of the strongest aspects of the team. Raymond certainly became well known for his hard tackling. Inspirational forward runs from right back James McEwan provided the team with some flair from defence, whilst the left back position was filled by Nick Baxter who was a reliable member of the squad. Captain courageous was Andrew Beattie who, along with Stewart McLaren, provided the engine room and craft of the team with his creativity and commitment apparent for all to see. The wide roles were filled by Stuart McIntyre and Andrew Goodenough to begin with and provided good attacking options down either flank, although Andrew was not always available to play due to hockey commitments. Even when there was a player missing, however, the team was not weakened as Keith Brazendale proved to be a versatile replacement, more than capable of playing in a variety of positions across the pitch. The team was constantly being strengthened throughout the season with late introductions of Adam Sheikh and Michael Tay. Mr Mcleod implemented several rigorous pre-season training sessions and organised friendly yet testing fixtures against the American School and Nairn. Convincing victories in both games predicted a successful outlook for the team, and preparation for the first match couldn't have been better. Bridge of Don were Grammar's first opponents in the League, and goals from excellent striker Steven Ross and versatile Stuart McIntyre sealed an impressive performance with a win. Peterhead was the next to provide us with a challenge; one which they overcame with ease, capping a fine performance with an emphatic 6-0 victory. The romance of the Scottish Cup was short-lived however, with a crushing 3-1 defeat at the hands of a quality Perthshire team. Bad weather hampered the fixture calendar, forcing many games to be re-scheduled to early 2001. The lengthy delay proved to be a downfall for the team which was evident in the first game back against Kincorth. Three early goals stunned the boys who showed great character to pull themselves back into the game and were unfortunate not to score on several occasions. The squad were looking to get back to their winning ways against a Cults team, and a goal from new addition Callum Thomas, who stepped up into the senior team from the under 15s, rounded off a fine team performance ensuring that this was the case. Throughout the season, the team has been getting stronger and stronger. Although it had an early set-back to the season by being knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the second round, the team did well to come back and reach the Regional Cup final which we narrowly lost 2-1 to Kincorth with a goal very late in the match. We have also pushed for the league and are currently sitting top with Kincorth second, needing to win their two remaining fixtures to clinch the title. Several players were rewarded for their efforts and commitment to the team by receiving colours this year.
Under 12's Football For the first time, in the year 2000, the School had an under-12's football team. This pleased us all, as we had been playing for two or three years at primary school. We were happy that we were chosen for the team, and we found ourselves playing alongside old "enemies" from primary school experiences. It was now our job to play for one another. Despite being a new team, we posed a threat to local teams. The team was coached by Mr Adey, and captained by Garry Wood, with Andy Bagshaw, Robbie Majury and Shaun Findlay as vice-captains. After our first game, everyone could see that we had a strong squad. We started the season with a bang when we emphatically beat a strong St Machar side 9-5.In the local cup, we had a nail-biting encounter against Mintlaw; we were down 2-0 at half-time, but we dug deep and fought back to win 3-2. That game gave us a massive boost of confidence. In the Scottish cup we were the most successful Aberdeenshire team, reaching the last eight. In the first couple of rounds we beat Bankhead, Peterhead and Bridge of. Don without our vice-captain. Then came our long awaited match against a highly rated side, All Saints of Bishopbriggs. This fixture had been cancelled a couple of times because of the weather. We put on a brilliant performance and won 5-3. 12
School Section
[-woe A,y !Si efiyill,y lamps- arnuurviD uaarmaqv
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Our first defeat came in March in the semi final of the Esso Cup, against Cults Academy, which we lost 3-2 with Cults scoring what proved to be the winner with only a few minutes left. A few days later we headed for Falkirk to play St. Mungo's in the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Cup. Before the match we stopped off near Stirling to stretch our legs, and the players walked up the Wallace Monument, Mr. Adey probably hoping for a bit of inspiration to rub off on the team! We had a great view across Stirling, seeing the castle nearby. Unfortunately, the inspirational side was lost on a team without its Vice-Captain and about to suffer an early injury to its captain. The team was unable to respond and lost heavily 50, ending a very disappointing week. This left us with the League and Green Final Trophy to play for, and when we went into the final without both our captain and vice-captain we knew that we had to put in a good shift and we did just that. We had a superb first half, which saw us lead 2-1 at half-time. The score line remained the same until, with 10 seconds left, and Grammar looking certain winners, Kincorth scored a controversial equalising goal, sending the game into extra time. Kincorth eventually went on to win the match - and the cup - 4-3. That game was a massive blow for the team. We managed to get back to our winning way in the league, finishing top of the South of Aberdeen League, and strolled into the top league by demolishing teams such as Portlethen, Cults and St Machar Academies. As the season continued, we kept on winning game after game until the top of the table clash with Kincorth. We started the game full of confidence and earned a 3-3 draw. In the top division the teams we had to face were Kincorth, Northfield, Hazlehead, Mintlaw and Oldmachar. We started the league with convincing wins against Northfield and Oldmachar still without our injured captain and vice-captain. In the final part of the league, however, the performances deteriorated and fragile confidence shattered as we lost 2-0 to Mintlaw and 3-0 to Kincorth and had a 1-I draw with Hazlehead. Our season was over. We had been knocked out of the Scottish cup, lost the league and been beaten in a semi-final of one of the local cup competitions, as well as losing in a cup final. This was obviously a disappointing end to what was a great season. We felt we had achieved a lot in our first year as a team, mainly thanks to the massive amount of time and effort put into the team every week with the help, encouragement and work of our coach, Mr. Adey. The squad comprised Gany Wood, Andrew Bagshaw, Robbie Majury, Shaun Findlay, Stuart Carroll, Craig Carroll, Ian Fowler, Simon Mathers, Shaun Findlay, Tom Forrest, Samuel Mclay, Myles Edwards, Paul Kelly, Neale Ross. Peter Shaw, Philip McCall, Richie Dargie, Ben Holden and Andrew Henderson. Senior Rugby The School senior rugby team once again participated in competitive rugby this season after a gap of several years. The team, captained by Niall Methven, consisted of members of the FP Club under-18s, together with a few fourth year pupils who also play for the FP under 16s and some senior pupils who are relatively new to the game. Players from the French school augmented our numbers, while the Gallic influence and injection of pace of David Duffort at outside centre strengthened our back line considerably. It has been a season of mixed fortunes, with an unfortunate defeat by Millburn Academy in Inverness near the start of the season, which saw us knocked out of the Scottish Cup. Although leading 24-10 at half-time, we suffered injuries to key players in the second half, as Millburn battled back to win 26-24. The journey back from Inverness seemed much longer than the trip north! We also took part in the North of Scotland Cup, in which our first round tie was against Robert Gordon's College 1st XV, but after a tough physical battle we had to accept defeat by an older and more experienced side. When the final whistle was blown, our already injury-weakened starting line-up was even further depleted by two players with broken hands and two more with broken noses - accidental damage or intentional?? 14
School Section However, the season did witness two notable victories over Robert Gordon's 2nd XV at Countesswells, in which the boot of McMillan played a vital role, School winning 27-10 on one occasion. Other matches this season included games with Bridge of Don Academy and Banchory Academy in which younger, less experienced players were blooded. It is great to see these local schools playing rugby and providing stout opposition. The season closed with the North of Scotland sevens tournament, held at Countesswells, in which we finished a respectable fourth. Stewart Juroszek, Mark McMillan, Stuart Martin, David Taylor and Douglas Younger were all picked to play for the North-east of Scotland under-17 team, David and Stewart going on to represent the North of Scotland at under-18 level. Andrew Leighton, Craig Blyth and Nick Rose played for the Aberdeen under-16 representative team. They were an asset to the school team throughout the year, although only in S4, and should develop further and be the nucleus of the team in future years. In April, nine senior team players obtained the Scottish Rugby Union Level 1 coaching qualification, which will allow them to help with the coaching of SI and S2 players next year. Thanks must go to Mr Montgomery, who has dedicated a great number of hours and hard work to the resurrection and development of the team. He was greatly helped by the keen interest and expertise of various members of the FP Rugby Section. The squad were particularly grateful for the donation of a set of 1st XV shorts from the FPs. It is hoped that there will be rugby teams at the Grammar School for many more years, and that the link with FPs will continue to flourish. Squad Members: Stewart Juroszek, Steven MacDonnell, John Cochrane-Barnett, Michael Campbell, Scott Fraser, Andrew Leighton, Niall Methven, David Taylor, Ian Brand, Douglas Younger, Charles Thomas, Gavin Mansell, Andrew Gray, Kristoffer Hurst, Craig Blyth, Nick Rose, James Florence, Mark McMillan, Joel Klein, Stuart Martin, Andrew Lessels, Gilles Marre, David Duffort, and Arthur Arnaud. Junior Rugby A large number of SI boys trained regularly and played matches this season - sometimes the hardest task was deciding who to put on the replacements bench! The S2 "team" enjoyed playing games against other schools, however turning up for training was not their strength! Both teams entered the rugby "Festival" circuit and played round-robin tournaments against club sides at venues such as Ellon, Laurencekirk and Inverurie. Their opponents were usually made up of the best players from two or three different schools, so the competition was very tough but invariably we acquitted ourselves well. Robert Gordon's provided regular opposition, and we were more than a match for their 'B' sides; perhaps next year we will be well enough organised to take on their 'A' teams. The S2 team finished third in the North of Scotland Schools 7-a-side tournament which was played at Countesswells in late March. Key players in the S2 side were the captain, Peter Cross, and Alistair Ferguson, Maurice Duncan, Stuart Crichton and Peter Gordon. SI Squad Members: Alistair Wilmott (captain), Ralph Thompson, Gary Greenhowe, Eoin Robertson, Ross Anderson, Robin Will, Russell Thomson, Liam Reid, John McAulay, Tom liett, Andrew Foreman, David Buckett, Craig Hamilton, Ian Proctor, Ryan Forgie, Graham McKay, Ruari 0'Donogue and Struan Clunas, Much gratitude is due to Angus Thompson (an FP and father of Ralph) who devoted lots of time and energy assisting Mr Montgomery with the running of the S I side; without his help we would have struggled to cope. Next season it is hoped to involve some senior team players as coaches, but any FPs reading this who can offer expertise (or just plain help!) in any way should contact Mr Neill Montgomery at the School. Ski Racing The past season has been exceptional, not because of any great team success but due to the Grammar producing its first individual Scottish Schools' Champion. This honour went to 15
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Laura Wood who, although only in S4, won the Senior Girls' Title at the Lecht in February. She went on to represent Scotland in the World Schools' Ski Championships held in Pralognan in France in March . She did very well there and was a credit to our School. The Senior School girls' team qualified for the British Schools' Championships, but on the eve of the competition the girls' chances were badly handicapped when Sarah Wood had to call off due to a knee operation. Sarah will be missed next year having represented the School for many years, as she has now completed her Sixth Year . Also depleting the girls' team will be Julia Desiree-Bartsch, who is going to France to take her final year at school there - near the Alps, she hopes! We have a good crop of S2 girls coming through the ranks and they will be needed in the Senior team to support Laura. This year, along with a young group of SI boys, they competed at the Lecht in the Scottish Schools' Minors races These were held in perfect skiing conditions - an abundance of fresh powdery snow, totally windless, -6°C and blue skies - was this really Scotland? Boys such as Jamie Kunka. Eoin Robertson and Struan Clunas are names to watch out for in the years ahead, while Sophie Ramsay is beginning to improve her technique and ski faster too. Laura Wood was awarded Half-Colours for her efforts to date. Golf - The Arthur McCombie Trophy The final for last year's Competition was delayed until August. due to the poor weather during the 'Summer' term and the large number of entries. However, the final match was eventually played at Hazlehead between Ian Nicol and Colin Shaw, with Colin winning the trophy. This year' s competition is at present well under way and hopefully the final will take place before the end of term. The school's golf team this year had a few new faces, but despite this we beat Northfield 2-1 in the opening game at Hazlehead. Unfortunately we were beaten by the same score against Bridge of Don. This meant that we had to win our final game against Harlaw which was played at Nigg Bay. The team of Alan Stuart/David Young , Neil Purvis/Graham Nethercote, and Nick Anderson/Sandy Hamilton all won their matches and we qualified for the semi- finals. This year's matches were held at the new venue of Craibstone, and we were drawn against Cults. The team required a change in personnel, with Colin Shaw and Mark McMillan taking the places of Sandy and David. The team performed very well, with some excellent scoring, winning the first match 2 & I unfortunately losing the second match 3 & 2 and gaining a half in the final match. This, however, meant that we lost the game by virtue of the count back on holes lost. All boys who played this year in the team played well, and were a credit to themselves and the School. I look forward to next year's competition to go one or perhaps two better.
Clubs and Societies Art Club The Art Club has been running for almost two years now, and is open to all pupils within the School. The members this year. mostly first and second year boys, have been working enthusiastically with clay, making all types of pots which will then be fired and glazed ready to take home. Athletics Club This year we competed exceptionally well at the Aberdeen Schools Cross Country Invitation, with the S2 Girls' Team (Christina Fox, Katherine Gane and Miriam Khan) placed 1st and the SI Boys Team (Myles Edwards, Blair Leslie, Andrew Henderson) coming 3rd. In the SI Girls' Individual Zoe McPherson was 4th, while in the SI Boys' Individual Myles Edwards was 4th. 16
School Section Some of our athletes competed successfully in the Aberdeen 3k Series which took place on Thursday evenings at the Beach Promenade. Training is on Wednesday evenings at school and new members are always welcome. Book Club Don't girls read books? This has been another all-male session. The boys have benefited from the extended Club hours, 12.35 to 1.30 every Friday, when they divided their time between the classroom and the library. This made for a messier discussion when lunch was eaten at the same time. The Internet was used to trace all the new developments in the new Harry Potter film, and book reviews were found on other favourites, including the much-awaited Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. As we draw to the end of the school year, the Club members have been active in promoting Readathon, a sponsored read on behalf of Sargent Care for Children and the Roald Dahl Foundation. They have also been helpful in collating crisp packets for the Free Books for School scheme. At a recent meeting the Club members decided that they would like to have a Senior Book Club as well as the existing Junior Club. The new club would ensure that present members have the chance to discuss more senior concerns without the younger pupils tittering in the background. Gymnastics Club The Gymnastic Club is open to first and second year pupils, and there has been a good response for participation. The members trained on Fridays from 3.35 to 5pm - yes, even on a Friday after school they turned up, which says a great deal for their enthusiasm. The classes began with a warm-up, and then it was on to exercises to improve strength and flexibility. Next came endurance training to ensure that everyone had the stamina to perform. During the second half of the training session, pupils undertook either beam, floor or vault work. A new trampet was acquired by the PE Department in the latter part of the session, which was thoroughly used and enjoyed by all. The gymnasts improved in various aspects of the sport, and coaching them was made easy by their enthusiasm and dedication. Hillwalking Club The Hillwalking Club continued to take the younger pupils out on Sunday expeditions to hill and coastal areas within easy reach of the city. It has to be noted, however, that the number of participating youngsters was down from previous years. Since Mr Jayne, of the Total French School, left for pastures new in August we have also lost the Gallic element which had added flare to some of our expeditions last year. The restart of activities following the winter break was considerably delayed due to restrictions on guided groups in the countryside during the foot-and-mouth crisis. Consideration will now be given to promoting the activity more actively in the older year groups, among whom several pupils have useful experience and even qualifications. I continue to urge other members of staff, or indeed other adults in the school community, to become qualified to Scottish Mountain Leader Training Board standard. This would enable more frequent and more ambitious projects to be undertaken, such as training youngsters for the expedition element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Literary & Debating Society For Aberdeen Grammar School Senior Debating, this year has heralded one of the greatest lists of achievements in our prestigious debating history. With expert advice and limitless energy from all the members of staff who have involved themselves in debating this year, the Society has kept itself continually busy and has, in the process, secured Aberdeen Grammar School a considerable reputation. Particular thanks should be given, therefore, to 17
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Mrs Straiten - head member of staff for senior debating, who organised virtually everything for us and who has been instrumental in our continued existence as one of the School's most vibrant societies; to Miss Innes, who has supplied immeasurable amounts of support, calming words and fish and chips; to Mr Richardson, who, although strictly responsible for junior debating, has kept us informed and amused throughout the year; and to Miss Gordon, who very kindly accompanied two senior teams to the Durham Union competition. How then has our debating year progressed? Our first major competition of the year was the Robert Gordon's Schools Competition, held as part of their 250th anniversary celebrations in late 2000. After three tough rounds, the team of Patrick Emerson, Helen Graham and Sarah Jones didn't quite reach the final but did end a respectable fifth, with Patrick Emerson coming fourth on the individual speakers' tab. Moderate success in local events (both debating and public speaking) then followed, and continued into early 2001. In November 2000, Aberdeen Grammar became the only state school to have had a member of the Scottish Schools Debating Team for quite some time, when Patrick Emerson was offered a trial and subsequently accepted. Against other top debaters in Scotland, he succeeded, along with another four school debaters, in being chosen to represent Scotland at the World Schools' Debating Championships in South Africa in February. Clearly, this was a very exciting development for the Society as a whole, and what eventually became even more noteworthy was Scotland's placing in the championships themselves, in February 2001. After eight preliminary rounds and from octo- to semi-finals, Scotland found themselves one of the two remaining countries from a full complement of thirty-two. The final was held in front of distinguished academics and ambassadors from all over the world, and attracted considerable interest from the BBC and South African media amongst others. Unfortunately the Australian team came out victors at the end of the day, but the Scottish team for the final, Jack Anderson (Robert Gordon's College), Alex Just (George Heriot's) and our own Patrick Emerson received high commendations on top of taking two judges in a 5/2 split decision. From there onwards the Aberdeen Grammar School senior teams represented a considerable force at every major UK competition. In March, Sarah Jones and Patrick Emerson won the Aberdeen University Competition, thereby ending Robert Gordon's College's five year domination. Two other teams from the School (Colin McArthur with Helen Graham, and Kirsten Riach with Katy Booth) also received much acclaim, and one of our junior teams even made the final. Later that month we qualified for, and competed in, the Oxford Union Schools' Competition, in which we were placed inside the top 15 schools. After much hectic organising and coffee consumption, we finalised our year so far at the Durham Union Schools competition. The school entered two senior teams for this: AGS 'B' - Katy Booth and Kirsten Riach, and AGS 'A' - Sarah Jones and Patrick Emerson. The 'B' team was joint 27th out of 56 teams - which was a very respectable performance for a team with no previous experience at national level. Meanwhile, AGS 'A' fought through to the semi's and ultimately the final, (staged in the impressive Durham Union building) when they were the only state school team to have got past the preliminary rounds. Haberdashers' Aske's Boys 'A' eventually won on a close decision, with Patrick Emerson picking up the prize for best speech in the final. Overall it was a suitable conclusion to what has been a year of real achievement for Aberdeen Grammar School debating. Moreover, what has been particularly pertinent throughout the year has been the fact that all our senior teams have been composed solely of fifth year pupils. While many English schools were fielding speakers as old as nineteen, every one of our senior speakers should be competing again next year - hopefully to win more competitions and reach more finals! Further events are approaching in June, so our season is by no means over. Patrick Emerson has been invited to speak at George Heriot's on fox hunting as part of their sixth year's induction day (with members of The Countryside Alliance and The League Against Cruel Sports), Sarah Jones and Patrick Emerson will be speaking in June at King Edward's School in Birmingham in an invitational competition, and Patrick Emerson will be speaking with Jack Anderson of Robert Gordon's College at The Durham Open competition. With our grassroots support at our (frequently hilarious, invariably lively) Monday lunchtime 18
School Section debates, and a very strong junior contingent moving into the senior circuit next year, one can only assume that Singapore 2001 should not be the last time Aberdeen Grammar School has a speaker in the Scottish team. Junior Debating It has been another strong year for Aberdeen Grammar Schools' Junior Debating team. The highlight was, undoubtedly, our Junior Debaters battling their way through to the final of the Aberdeen University Schools' Competition. Defeating a number of Senior teams along the way they were, in fact, the only Junior side to make it to the final, which was won by our senior debaters. We were also able to reach the 3rd round of the English Speaking Union North of Scotland debate, before being knocked out by the eventual winners. This, coupled with thriving weekly junior debates, means we have a particularly strong year group going up into senior debating this year. Many of our third years, in particular, have vastly benefited from being involved in regular, competitive debating. Music Extra-curricular activities continue to be high on the agenda, with seven groups currently rehearsing in the music department, the hall, the drama studio and, on occasion, an R.M.E. room. The string orchestra goes from strength to strength under the direction of Mrs.Teresa Boag, ably assisted by her fellow instructors, Miss Hilary Cromar and Miss Astrid Blythe. This year has seen performances at both school concerts, at the Carol Concert and at Aberdeen Music Festival at which they were awarded a certificate in the 'very good' category for their performances of 'Londonderry Air' and 'Carnival Night'. The jazz band fell under the capable baton of an S6 pupil, Scott Annison, who is a member of the Scottish Jazz Orchestra. As well as performing at school concerts, they provided entertainment at the Christmas lights 'switch on' at The St. Nicholas Centre with an excerpt from their performance played on radio the following morning. The enthusiastic and ebullient Dr. Foster steered his charges in the concert band through the opening slots in school concerts and a mighty performance in Queen's Cross Church as part of the Aberdeen Music Festival, where they earned high praise from the adjudicator, John Whittaker, and earned themselves an 'outstanding' certificate. Swelling ranks in the choir this year necessitated the formation of a senior and junior choir. The seniors, directed by Mrs.Zoe Bimie, were successful in winning The Challenge Banner at the Festival in The Cowdray Hall. The Juniors graced the stage at The Music Hall for the annual Evening Express Carol Concert, when they admirably represented the school with their renditions of four Christmas Songs, including 'Rock 'n' Roll Reindeer', a favourite with both participants and audience alike. Friday sees the woodwind group meeting under the guidance of their teacher, Miss Anne Whittaker while, competing in an adjacent room, Mrs.Bimie's ceilidh band are setting feet a-tapping with their jigs and reels. The stereo effect on any innocent passer-by is unusual, to say the least! The school show is a large part of the extra-curricular calendar, with intensive rehearsals from August to November. Last year's production of 'Bye-bye Birdie' saw enormous support and loyalty from pupils on and off stage, and from the band. Mrs. Bimie, in admirable fashion, coaxed, cajoled and conducted band, chorus and principals through the show to resounding applause each night, with performances worthy of the highest acclaim. Future plans for the department, from June onwards, include the introduction of two keyboard classes at lunchtimes to cater for the growing interest from pupils . After summer, we would like to see the formation of a recorder group, which will be rehearsed by an S6 pupil as part of Training & Directing for Advanced Higher. It is a hectic workload at times, but well worth the commitment, which cannot be measured against the benefits for pupils. The music department is indebted to its dedicated team of instructors for their continuing support of all extra-curricular activities, but a huge vote of thanks must also go to the faithful band of pupils who give willingly of their time in the pursuit of excellence 19
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Radio/Linux Club The Radio element is still underway with a PC being bought from allocated funds. Linux (Suse 6.4) has been installed and is connected to the school internal network. Members of the club have been allocated accounts on this system and can access the machine from anywhere on the school network either by a straight telnet connection or (courtesy of "X Thin Pro" who granted us a free 10 user license) via a X windows interface. The pupils have certainly benefited from the chance to experience a computing environment outside the world of Microsoft. The next phase of development is to get the Packet Radio equipment up and working again - but connected to the new Linux-based PC. Then we can make this accessible across the school network (but clearly following Radio telecomms broadcasting regulations). On a less technologically heavy note we have found the networked PCs in one of the department's classes to be very well suited to playing network based games - no noticeable delay in game play! So far we have only used demos but we would like to purchase some full blown packages. Any offers? Rock of Ages The Progression Sessions Having recently finished my sixth and final year at Aberdeen Grammar School I would like to express my gratitude for an extra-curricular club which has allowed me to express and broaden my changing musical tastes over the years. Founded four years ago by Mrs Wattie, the club has remained active through the continuing dedication shown by its five core members. in its early days the Grammar School "Rock of Ages" club stood as a tribute to the innovators and pioneers of rock music's past. The first ever meeting of the club comprised a showing of the legendary Jimi Hendrix concert at Monterey. Encouraged to attend by my good friend and fellow member, Andrew Smith, I agreed to show up on that fateful Tuesday afternoon. A short presentation by Mrs Wattie gave us background information on the concert and was promptly followed by the video. Formerly unacquainted with the music of Jimi Hendrix (although I'm unsure how this was possible) I was instantly attracted to the raw guitar rifts and flamboyant stage antics (complete with burning guitars). From then on Smith and I appeared nearly every Tuesday lunchtime at one o'clock until the end of our school careers. After our initial introduction to "Rock of Ages" our knowledge of rock's history was broadened by weekly presentations which gave a detailed portrayal of the music, ideals and lives of the bands which changed the direction of popular music. Mrs Wattie's and Mr McLean's extensive knowledge of vintage (pardon the expression. it's not a comment on age, merely time-matured quality) rock music always provided an informative insight into the work of a huge variety of artists. This spanned household names and underground titles alike, including giants such as Led Zeppelin, U2, M'torhead, David Bowie and Pink Floyd and mainstream-shy acts in the form of Van der-graff Generator, The Velvet Underground and Half Man Half Biscuit. Once we had taken time to appreciate the tastes of the founding members, we were soon encouraged to make our own presentations of favourite acts, both past and present. In my case the obvious choice was mid-nineties alternative rock. Armed with the entire Nirvana back catalogue and an obsessive knowledge of the subject, I proceeded to "educate" the group. The relaxed atmosphere in the room made it easy to talk, and the interest shown by the other members eased the experience further. Soon myself and Smith were presenting almost every second week, encompassing acts from the major areas of late-eighties and nineties rock. Blur, The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Oasis and Radiohead were favourite topics between myself and Smith, whilst Katie Human provided the knowledge on David Bowie, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Iggy Pop. As with music itself, the topics of the presentations were constantly evolving. As our tastes advanced to embrace other musical genres, presentations were given on jazz, electronica, trip-hop and jazzy hip-hop. Smith's introduction to the Mo Wax record label marked the beginning of a new direction for the club. At the request of the adult members, Smith and I discussed our choice selections from the developing world of modem sample20
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based music. Hip-hop, down tempo, drum and bass, techno and jazz-house were all represented, providing new musical areas for the other members to investigate. The success of the "Rock of Ages" club has been due to its like-minded members with the common interest of a deep and open-minded appreciation. The only foreseeable problem which the club will face in the future will be to find members who fully enjoy music as much as its present members do. If, however, Mrs Wattie decides not to continue the club, we can all be content that Katie Burman has set up a music appreciation society at her university. Thanks again to all the members, both long-standing and temporary, who have contributed to the success of "Rock of Ages". It's better to bum out than to fade away (as they say). Alistair Allan Tennis Club This is a small but enthusiastic Club which plays in a tournament with Robert Gordon's College, Hazlehead Academy, Cults Academy, Albyn and St Margaret's. Matches are played after school and new members are welcome. Trampoline Club Thanks to the school's willingness to purchase a second-hand trampoline, the first ever Trampoline Club at Aberdeen Grammar School was launched. Previous experience had suggested that demand for this type of club would be high, so the first session was restricted to SI pupils. As expected, the response was fantastic, with over thirty SI pupils attending the initial meeting. Unfortunately, it is only viable to take six performers at a time. A mixed group of beginners and intermediates was selected for session 1. More experienced performers will get a chance to take part next session. The club runs every Monday in the Main Hall from 3.45 to 5 pm. The aims of the club are: • to provide pupils with the opportunity to take part in a sport not widely available • to increase awareness of the sport • to encourage pupils to take part in sport The facilities and time available mean that Club members do not perform competitively, but pupils with potential are encouraged to join one of the local Trampoline Clubs which take part in local and national competitions. Session I has been a great success, with performers progressing to a variety of moves including Back Drops, Swivel Hips and Tuck Front Somersaults. Comments like "do we have to pack up now?" and, "can we get another five minutes?" confirm that trampolining is an important addition to the vast array of clubs run by the school. Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine - "The Voice" This year's 6th year felt that Aberdeen Grammar School pupils should, once again, have a voice, hence the resurrection of the school magazine, aptly named "The Voice". We sold well, have had positive feedback and even enquiries about when the next issue will be produced. The hard work of the magazine team will be rewarded through the award of a school prize, which the Former Pupils' Club has partially funded this year. Many thanks for your support. Face the Music: "Bye Bye Birdie" "Please Sir, can I have some more?" was the most important line from last year's show, Oliver. 'More' came in the form of another of Miss Adams' brilliantly directed shows, 'Bye Bye Birdie' where we were encouraged to 'Put on a Happy Face' and exaggerate the smiles in this Fifties style musical based on the story of Elvis going off to the army and the effect this had on his many teenage fans. As a publicity stunt, Conrad's manager writes a song, 'One Last Kiss', and off the team goes to Sweet Apple, Ohio to plant that last kiss on Kim 21
Face the Music - Bye Bye Birdie
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Albert (Colin McArthur), his mother (Sarah Jones) and his domineering wife (Katy Booth).
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Macafee, his biggest teenage fan. How does the town cope? It all started at auditions back in June when Miss Adams managed to pick the most bizarre cast in the long history of casting. With Colin McArthur's bendy legs and the stunning Katy Booth taking the leading roles the show was bound to be a corker. Their singing was good; their acting was great and their dancing (especially Colin's) brought the house down. Sarah Jones played Colin's Jewish mama and, despite her outlandish make-up, her constant suicide threats, and a desperation to hold on to her 'little boy', she was perhaps the most loved character in the show. The title role, Conrad Birdie, was played by Charles Thomas, a man not renowned for his shy demeanour. Charles certainly got into the role of the pelvic swinging rock star both on and off stage. The Macaffe family, mum, Emily Montgomery, dad, Steven McDonnell, Kim, Frances Sutherland and brat, Ben Hunter were a superbly blended dysfunctional family. Despite concerns about Steven's lines, Ben's breaking voice. Frances' costumes and Emily having to put up with the family from hell, they provided many of the most humorous moments of the show. With a cast of 70 pupils from S2 to S6, the stage was certainly busy, and between the band and the crew almost 140 pupils were involved in the show. The chorus sang and danced their hearts out and showed an amazing aptitude for screaming every time Conrad made an entrance. Hopefully their voices will recover before the next show! This show certainly uncovered many hidden talents; the set designers, the make-up girls, the wardrobe team, the props runners, lighting and sound guys and the stage crew were great. They even managed to find the time to invent new dances in the wings - shame the audience didn't get to see them! The band seems to get bigger and better every year and once again under the expert baton of Mrs Birdie they excelled. Weeks of rehearsals in dark practice rooms certainly paid off! Special thanks must go to all the staff involved with the show, especially Miss Adams, Mrs Bimie, Mr Hutton and Mrs Wattie, for without them Memories of Face the Music will stay with us for a long time to come. With many of this year's cast moving on, perhaps the next time we tread the boards will be on HMT's stage as some of last year's cast did in this year's Student Show. After all, as Conrad says, we've still 'Got a Lot of Living to Do!' Charities Group As part of Bamardo's work, the charity runs a project in the Linksfield area of the city. Using its own residential unit, outreach and education teams it provides a unified therapeutic child care service. Here's what people think about it: "The project provides a positive and helpful way ofenabling children to be included in mainstream education. There are children who would not be able to access the opportunities which mainstream education provides without this support from Barnardo:s. This year, in particular, despite problems with staff changes, the Project has carried on this valuable work" Senior Educational Psychologist "The service given to the client and family, individually and as group, has been comprehensive, sensitive and enabling" Social Worker "It made me look at myself as a mother; how I could change the way I think about my son. I'm now more confident in myselfand my approach to him" A mother "The worker has been helpful because I can explain my thoughts and she really helps me. I have been able to talk about things so they are not all building up inside me"
A young person The above are just a few pointers from one of the charities to which the Charities Group has donated money this year. Perhaps the comments should have been presented in reverse order, as in schools, or projects such as the Linksfield scheme, it's the kids who are the most important people in the system, not the so-called professionals or managers. We know this to be true of ourselves. The items listed later are all down to the hard work and continued efforts of pupils on the Charities Group who have again excelled themselves 23
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine with the enormity of their efforts. They have been responsible for the range of activities we have organised to raise money for charity. They have helped run our daily tuck-shop, organised discos, a school bands concert and a variety of events that took place quietly on Comic Relief Day, plus a whole host of other little things which are necessary for us to achieve our objectives. For their particular efforts, the departing Catriona Sinclair and Jennifer Gane, both 6/6, are the first joint winners of the Caritas Cup for services to the community. The Caritas Cup has been purchased with money given to the School by the dissolved Young Amnesty Group, which was run by the much missed Will Hardwick, who has now left the R.M.E Department. The cup will be awarded to a worthy pupil(s) by the Charities Group and the Modern Studies department, on an alternate year basis. The following donations have been made this year: £ 200 New Frontiers Landmines Appeal 400 Instant Neighbour Archie Foundation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 250 250 The Cyrenians 300 Oxfam Earthquake Appeal 250 Bamardo's 100 Luke Dyer 6/6 trip to Brazil 100 Niall Methven 6/2 trip to Australia 522.30 Comic Relief 144.82 Concern Scotland Voluntary Service Aberdeen 187.07 £2704.19 in addition, the indomitable Mrs Welsh of the PE department managed to get in over 220 boxes of goodies to send out to Kosovan refugees just before Christmas. A fantastic effort on her part, that was! We need to say 'Thank You' to an awful lot of people. Pupils, Technicians and Staff will do for starters! Blood Donors
Us
For the past two years there has been a good response to raising awareness in School of the need to donate blood. For a long time now 17-year-olds have been able to donate, which means that there is a good opportunity to get people started when they are still at school. Like most things, it is a lot easier and more fun when you go with a pal. So many people have said to me "I've always meant to go", or "it's a great thing, but I've never got round to it- . Now there's no hiding place! As with many things, people tend to think that others will do it for them, hence only 5% of the Scottish population are blood donors. I decided to have a go at recruiting likely volunteers and was very pleased with the response. There are strict criteria for being a blood donor, and not everyone who goes up to the donor centre, eager to do his or her bit, will be accepted: the trick is not to be disappointed, but to try again later. They still give you juice and a chocolate biscuit, so it's not a wasted trip. Last year we had eleven donations, and this year we have seen sixteen, including both staff and pupils. Apart from these numbers, raising awareness has meant that staff and pupils went on their own to donate, having had their memories jogged. Outings to the donor centre are very sociable and never dull. Who knows, maybe reading this will help you make that short journey which may help to save a life. SI Health Event On Monday 12 February all SI pupils were removed from their normal timetables in order that they could participate in a Health Event. This ambitious event, devised by the staff on the school's Health Education Committee, was in alignment with Aberdeen City Council's 24
School Section policy on health, and aimed to extend the pupils' curricular experiences in Home Economics, Physical Education, Science and Social Education. SI pupils were invited to take part in this event with the hope that raising awareness and setting health targets with our youngest pupils may begin to have an impact on achieving local and national targets for children's health. The year group of 210 pupils was divided into three groups of 70 who travelled, in rotation, between three venues to experience different and active ways of learning about health issues. At Aberdeen College the pupils were joined by professional chefs who, amongst other activities, took part in a "Ready, Steady, Cook" demonstration. The Beach Leisure Centre was the venue for physical fitness with many different sport options on offer linking to work which aimed to recognise the importance of exercise. Back in school, pupils took part in a quiz, styled on "Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?", which tested their knowledge of health issues and had substantial gift tokens as prizes. Outwith the teaching sessions, the snacks, drinks and lunches which were provided for the pupils during the course of the day were all planned to be balanced and healthy. The pupils have all set at least one health target which will be followed up during S2, and their feedback about the day was very positive. Young Scientists, Business People & Enterprise Royal Society of Chemistry and Science Museum Top of the Bench Competition, 2001 In March, a team of four pupils, Christopher Burnett, S4, Anna Campbell, S3 and Alasdair Lynch and Jennifer Garden, both S2, took part in the final of the national Top of the Bench Competition at the Science Museum in London. Top of the Bench is an annual Chemistry competition for schools representing Royal Society of Chemistry local sections. The final comprised three events - a short written test of chemical knowledge, a practical chemical problem-solving exercise, and an informationgathering exercise in the Science Museum. The competition involved 29 teams and the Grammar team finished in twelfth place, a very creditable achievement. The pupils were accompanied to London by Chemistry teacher, Miss Williamson. Young Enterprise The Young Enterprise Company came up with the name INNOV8 within a short period of forming. It took slightly longer to think of a product or service to offer to the community. During the fortnightly meetings the brainstorming process began. After shifting through numerous unsuitable ideas (including singing mugs, voodoo dolls and a travelling Santa's grotto) they finally hit upon the idea of gift boxes, which was then extended to many other seasonal products. Apart from the Christmas Gift Boxes, several other services were offered by the company to raise funds, i.e. a bus trip to Glasgow University Open Day, and making and delivering Valentine cards within the school. The company overcame problems by communicating with each other and managing tasks efficiently. Fourteen members of INNOV8 undertook the Young Enterprise Scotland Examination run by the University of Strathclyde. All passed, some of them with credit, while four gained Distinction. One member in particular, Claire Murphy, had an excellent result, finishing over-all third in Scotland out of 1,700 candidates, which was an outstanding success for Claire and the company. INNOV8 was one of six companies chosen as finalists for the Grampian Young Enterprise Company Award. On May 3rd at the Marriott Hotel, Dyce four members of the company had to undergo an Interview with the three judges. They presented their report and gave a presentation based on their months as a company. They were successful and won the Grampian Region Final, which was an excellent achievement. The company will now attend the Scottish Final on 14th June in Glasgow. It has been a very successful year for all involved with the company. They have made a good profit and have learned a lot that will certainly be of use to them in their futures. 25
Aberdeen Grammar Schaal Magazine They have been inspired and educated about the value and role of business, have developed new attitudes and skills and, most of all, they have enjoyed themselves along the way. Motorola Award for Excellence in Education for Work and Enterprise Education for work is one of the key purposes of the curriculum: it extends beyond the subject curriculum and penetrates every area of the school. Core skills, subject courses, personal and social development, careers education and guidance, enterprise activities and work experience all help prepare pupils for success beyond the school gates. This national award was .designed to reward schools for excellence in these areas and, believing that we more than fµlfrlled the criteria, we went ahead and prepared a submission. By doing so. we were able to give a greater insight into the wealth of opportunities available to the pupils. The experiences were numerous and varied: work experience, industrial visits, blood donors, school plays, teams (sport, debating and quiz teams to name a few), activities week, discos, charities group, careers, young enterprise .... the list is endless. A great deal of this information was brought to light through an audit of courses, and information provided by the staff. We have never before gathered all this information together in one place and the end result was very gratifying. It revealed the enormous commitment from both stall and pupils to the wider school experience, something that is not necessarily revealed by statistics and exam results. At the moment we are awaiting a final decision regarding our application. We have, however, already presented our submission to the locally appointed assessors who were happy to recommend us for this award. Hopefully this award will highlight the importance of education for work and enterprise, and the school's role in promoting it.
Home Economics Scottish Young Consumers 2000/2001 For two successive years teams from the School have represented the North of Scotland in the Scottish Final of this competition. In March last year, Jenny McRae, Rebecca Jones, Lauren McGregor and Chris Thomson were runners-up in a closely contested final in Edinburgh. In March 2001. Melanie Duncan, Sarah Wattie, Niall Methven and Stuart Still won both the North of Scotland heat and the Scottish Final. They now compete in the National Final in Cardiff in June. Grampian Food Product Development Competition Jennifer Dowds and Ashley Henderson were runners-up in this new competition which was instigated by the introduction of the new Higher Still courses in Health and Food Technology. Pupils submitted a series of recipes developed through completing their Technological Projects for Higher Health and Food Technology. At the final the pupils had to prepare the dishes in the Food Resource Centre test kitchen at Inverurie. Asda Banana Recipe Competition In May 2000 Holly Taylor and Michael Rennie were Scottish winners of this competition and went on to represent Scotland in the Leeds Final, winning £200 for the School. Get Set to Cook Vegetables S6 pupils Lucy Davies and Melanie Duncan won the Aberdeen City heat of this annual competition run by Health Promotions. Although they did not win the final, which took place at Baxter's of Speyside, they thoroughly enjoyed cooking in Baxter's development kitchen. 26
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The Baxter's Award for Home Economics Mrs Sheilagh Belford, Principal Teacher of Home Economics, was presented with the Baxter Cup at the Annual Seminar for Home Economics in May. This cup was donated by Baxter's of Speyside to be presented annually to a Home Economics teacher who has achieved personal, professional or pupil success within the subject.
School Social Functions Two social dances for senior pupils were held this session. The October mid-term dance attracted 250 dancers, and proved outstandingly successful. Full-time professional band, Manson Grant and The Dynamos from Wick once again supplied the music. In May, the school waved goodbye to its leavers with the spectacular Annual Ball in the School Hall. The Rector, Mr Johnston, welcomed the company at the dinner. The event, for 260 pupils and staff was another "tremendous success". The Garioch Blend Dance Band and radio personality, Roy Rhodes, delighted the dancers with a wide range of music to suit everyone. Social dance organiser, Mr Bill May and his committee of S5 and S6 pupils appreciate the support of all staff and pupils who helped in any way. Throughout the evening at the Leavers' Ball, individual and group photographs were taken by Mr McLeod and Messrs Joe and John McLean. All photographs were displayed and were available to all who attended. Same events, same time, same place next year!
School Board I am pleased to advise that since February 2001 the Board has been operating with its full compliment of parent members. The Board thanked its retiring members for their sterling efforts. The composition of the Board is excellent, with knowledge and enthusiasm in most areas. The last year has been taken up fighting the School name change, questioning changes to learning support provision throughout Aberdeen, liaising with the Rector on the School's Development Plan and keeping up to date with the most recent changes to the new legislation regarding education. These changes will create many challenges for the staff and children alike, not to mention their poor parents! The Board remains in dialogue with the Council both with regard to the playing fields at Rubislaw and the changing facilities there, and the provision of a Games Hall at the School. The Education & Leisure Committee of the Council has set up a working party to investigate the future for the playing fields and we would expect a report next year on that issue. The need for the provision of a Games Hall has been fully endorsed by a feasibility study instructed last May/June by the Council. We received a copy of the Report in May this year. The Board has been advised that, as ever, there are no funds locally to meet the cost of this need, but the Board is investigating the possibility of sharing the facility and the capital cost of building the facility with third parties. At the same time the Board is investigating the availability of Central Government funding from the Sports Excellence Fund. The Education Department is also investigating how to progress matters and it is hoped that something positive will begin to emerge from these efforts. The Board is now committed to attempting to improve its communications to parents and pupils alike, and parents should have received a newsletter issued by the Board in June this year. Alan J. Nicol
Parent Teacher Association The PTA committee and its active volunteer members continue to support the School by providing refreshments at all parent evenings, school productions and educational evenings. This year we were involved in raising awareness amongst parents and pupils about the proposal to change the name of the School. We encouraged parents to participate in the 27
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine consultation process of parents, pupils and staff. This resulted in overwhelming support for retention of the existing name and therefore the name remains unchanged. As in previous years, our main social fund raising event was a Ceilidh which provides an excellent opportunity for parents and staff to meet socially. In April we organised a Drug and Alcohol information evening for all parents. This involved participation from Drugs Action, Health Promotions, the Alcohol Advisory unit and the police. The aims of the evening were to inform parents of the different agencies involved in working with and preventing problems associated with drugs and alcohol. The theme of the evening was to stress the importance of communicating with our children and being aware of what goes on in their lives. This year the money raised by the PTA has been used to provide additional lockers in the School so that every pupil who wishes a locker has one. We have also funded personal planners for each pupil in the School. These are essentially a homework diary and are designed to help the pupils manage their time and plan their homework. There is room for parental comment in these books so that parents can be involved in supporting their children in this important and helpful part of learning. The PTA committee has decided to continue to supply these for all pupils in the future. The 200 Club continues to raise money for the PTA, however it has been increasingly difficult to recruit members. The committee is therefore considering other options which we hope will appeal to all parents. I have been chairperson of the PTA for the past three years and will be standing down at the AGM in September. I have enjoyed the time I have spent on the committee and would like to thank the parents and staff for their support.
Linda Juroszek Chairperson
The Phil Love Trophy The winner of the Phil Love Trophy this year has, as with all previous winners, achieved amazing success within the extra-curricular dimension for which he has been given the award. Also, as has been the case in the past, he has demonstrated an extremely high level of personal skill and talent. This combination clearly makes this year's recipient, Patrick Emerson, a most worthy winner. Patrick has raised the status of debating to an unparalleled level both in and furth of the School. After five dedicated years at the different levels of the school's Literary and Debating Society, of which he is now the Chairperson, he "talked" his way into being chosen as a member of the Scottish Schools' Debating Team. Indeed, this was a rare honour for a pupil from a state school and was obvious recognition of Patrick's powerful ability with the spoken word. When the Scottish Team went to the World Schools' Debating Championship in South Africa they came second, beaten to first place by Australia. Patrick was, however, the highest-scoring Scottish speaker - yet another personal triumph. Next stop with the team is Singapore. Nearer home, but away from Aberdeen, Patrick, along with others from Aberdeen Grammar, has won through to compete in some prestigious debating events such as the Oxford Union Schools' Competition and Durham Union Schools' competition where they have left their mark - for example, Patrick was judged the best speaker in the final at Durham. Such is his status that he has also been invited to speak at other debating events around the country (see the Senior Debating Report earlier in this Section for further details). Nor has Patrick ignored the local scene. He has found time to represent the School in the Aberdeen and North East circuit where the School now has a considerable reputation. The energy and enthusiasm which Patrick has displayed have been a significant factor behind the resurgence of the School Society, and he has provided the younger pupils with an excellent example to which to aspire. He has just entered Sixth Year, which makes his achievements even more notable. Apart from public speaking and debating he is no stranger to extra-curricular recognition. 28
School Section He played chess for Scotland in Primary 5, he was invited to take part in the Scottish Youth Theatre's productions course, he captained the Modern Studies Essay Writing quiz team and most recently was asked to co-compere an Aberdeen Schools drugs awareness event. Little wonder that he gave up playing the French horn in the school Concert Band in Third Year due to the pressure of other commitments, which also include participating in the school Drama productions since Second Year. He is a young man with an obviously bright future and we wish him success in all his various activities, especially the world debating circuit which has certainly not heard the last of him.
Head Boy and Head Girl 2000-2001
Mall A. G. Methven and Gemma K. Reid 29
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
ALL-ROUND TROPHY WINNERS The Executive Committee resolved recently to present to the School oak panels inscribed with the names of all Winners of the All Round Trophy since its inception in 1914, the panels to adorn the previously empty wall in the corridor outside the School office. Until now, the other three walls have displayed the panels listing Rectors of the School, Duxes and Medallists, and it was felt that the new gift would complement the names displayed on the other walls. At an informal ceremony held at the School on 10 May 2001 Dr J.R.S."Donny" lnnes, the 1935 winner, and the oldest surviving recipient of the Trophy, handed over the panels to the Rector. Donny, in a most felicitous speech, referred to the qualities which, over the years, had been recognised in several generations of pupils of the School by the interviewing panels of Former Pupils. These interviewers had never failed to be impressed (and, let it be said, amazed) by the breadth of talent displayed by candidates for the Award each year and the range of their accomplishments. The Rector replied acknowledging with gratitude on behalf of the School the thoughtfulness of this latest gift from the Former Pupils' Club. Accompanying Dr limes were Martin Jeffrey, Norman Garden, Jock Hendry, Alan Marr, Alan Hamilton, Brian Crookshanks and Russell Gray from the Executive, along with Malcolm Webster and Douglas Watson, two former winners of the Trophy. With Mr Johnston were Miss Helen limes, Depute Rector and this year's winners, Head Boy, Niall Methven and Head Girl, Gemma Reid. In 1913 the Club Executive had under consideration a number of schemes for the benefit of the School, and the minutes of the 1914 Annual General Meeting record that a Trophy to be presented to the best all-round boy had been arranged and the Trophy presented to the School. It was first awarded that summer. Other than some minor adjustment of the conditions in the light of experience, the basic grounds for making the award remain the same. A Former Pupil, John Ivo Dawson (1900-04), who was in business in Singapore and who was for about fifteen years the Club Consul there, took a very keen interest in his old School. In 1927, when home on leave, he donated the then large sum of £50 to the School to found a prize for combined excellence in scholarship and games, since when the "John Ivo Dawson Prize" has gone to the winner of the F.P. Club All Round Trophy. Mr Dawson died in February 1942 when the Japanese captured Singapore. In the 1960s the School received a bequest from Miss Agnes Durward Macdonald to provide a prize for the Runner-up, and since 1979, when girls first reached 6th Year, the Club has provided an All Round Trophy and a Runner-up Prize for girls. This seems an appropriate time to up-date what was done only once before, in the Magazine of June 1962, and provide brief notes on each of the Winners of the Trophy since its inception. 1914 1915 1916 1917
1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925
ALAN McBA1N (1903-14), MA, CA. Was in practice as a Chartered Accountant. Died at Aberdeen in 1954. No Award No Award JOHN TOWER SORLEY (1904-17), MA, MB,ChB. After a career in the Colonial Medical Service became medical officer to Aberdeen College of Education. Died at Aberdeen in 1949. MAXWELL STEPHEN (1906-18). No details available. ROBERT DONALD STRACHAN (1912-19), MA, BA, was Principal teacher of Classics at Peterhead Academy. Died at Aberdeen in 1979. JAMES ROBERT LESLIE CRUICKSHANK (1915-21), MA, LL.B, WS was in an Edinburgh law practice until retiral. Died in Edinburgh 1992. GEORGE M. PIRIE (1915-22). No details available. CECIL ARTHUR GRANT SAVIDGE (1913-24), MBE, MA had a distinguished Career in the Indian Civil Service. President of the FP Club 1964-65. Died 1975. KEITH RONALD THOMSON MATTHEW (1912-24), MB,ChB, was a general practitioner in Glasgow. Died 1986. JAMES MILNE McLEOD (1912-25), was a civil engineer. 30
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All-Round Trophy Panel - May 2001
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 1926 1927
1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934
1935
1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941
1942 1943 1944
1945 1946 1947 1948
1949
JAMES SMART ABERNETHY (1925-26), MA, LL.B, WS, was in the Colonial Service in Borneo and Tanganyika as a Resident Magistrate. Died in 1976. ARTHUR MARTIN SCRIMGEOUR (1921-27), MA, was Far East manager of Glaxo Laboratories, and then in London. Formed branch of the FP Club in Jap POW camp with 15 other FPs. Died in 1974. IAN FARQUHAR BOOTH (1916-28), MA, DipEd, was latterly Head of Maxwelltown High School. Died in 1988. WILLIAM GIBSON SLOAN (1927-29). Died in 1941 after long period in hospital. ALEXANDER JOHNSTON SLESSOR (1918-30), MVO, MB,ChB, FRCSE, FRCS, after a brief but distinguished career as a vascular surgeon, died in 1954. GEOFFREY ALLEN ROWTON (1920-31). BA, LL.B. was killed in action while serving as a Battery Commander with 36 Div. RA in Burma in 1945. JOHN SCOTT MacLACHLAN (19220-32), TD, MA, LL.B, was in practice as solicitor in Aberdeen. Secretary & Treasurer of FP Club 1946-65. Died in 1971. FERGUSON GEORGE DONALDSON SMITH (1922-33), DFC. Joined Metropolitan Police 1934. Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Special Branch from 1969. ALEXANDER ROBERTSON TAYLOR (1927-34), MA, MB,ChB, PhD, FRCSE was a consultant neurosurgeon in Northern Ireland, then a senior lecturer in the Medical Science Institute, Dundee. Died in 1978. JOHN ROBERT STEPHEN INNES (1923-35) MB,ChB is a Retired general practitioner in Aberdeen. Captain of Scottish XV in 1948, SRU President 1973-74 and FP Club President 1991-92. WILLIAM SCOTT GIBB (1925-36), MA, FSCA, was a director of G.L. Gibb & Co. timber merchants in Aberdeen. DUNCAN RONALD MacGREGOR (1925-38), MA. is a retired University lecturer. He is the son of Duncan MacGregor, former Games Master at the School. RONALD SPALDING FRANCE (1926-38) MA, was chairman of a clothing manufacturing company in Cheshire. Died in 1998. JAMES HARKINS MACKENZIE WYNESS (1933-39), MC. Captain Royal Artillery, was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and distinguished service in North-west Europe". Died in a military hospital in 1945. LAWSON DOUGLAS DAVIDSON (1934-40), MB,ChB, DA, FFARCS was a consultant anaesthetist with Grampian Health Board. Died in 1989 ROBERT KILGOUR BOOKER (1928-41), MA, LL.B was an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Singapore and Malaysia from 1960 and director of numerous public and private companies in the Far East. Died in Singapore in 1991. WILLIAM DAVIDSON (1932-42), was killed in action with the RAF near Faenza in Italy in December 1944, just two years after leaving School. WILLIAM CALDER MACPHAIL LAWRENCE (1940-43), MB,ChB, DPH was a specialist in community medicine with Forth Valley Health Board. Now retired. DAVID LOW COWIE (1942-44), after 32 years with Hong Kong Bank Group in the Far East retired to Edinburgh. Was in charge of Finance & Admin. for RSSPCC for II years. President of Edinburgh FP Centre in 1989. ARTHUR WILLIAM ALEXANDER MAIN (1939-45), MA, BD. after 15 years in parish ministry was then a principal teacher of religious education. Now retired. ALBERT ALEXANDER LAWRENCE (1940-46), MB,ChB, was in general practice in Buckie from 1957 until retiring in 1989. Died in 1998. GORDON BRUCE NICHOLSON (1938-47), CA, was in practice as a chartered accountant in Dingwall and now lives there in retirement. JOHN MICHAEL EDDISON (1939-48), BSc, AM1(Struct)E, AMAStE, was an engineer monitoring airport and road development projects in the Far East on behalf of the Asian Development Bank in Manila_ Believed now to be retired. Proximc Accessit - JOHN DUNN (1946-48) was in Rhodesia until 1965, but no upto-date information is known. • ERIC HUGH CRUICKSHANK (1940-49) BSc, PhD, after a short time with Shell Chemical Co. has been running small private engineering companies engaged in light engineering work until retiring recently. 32
General Section 1950
1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956
1957 1958
1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967
1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
ALASTAIR MACARTHUR NORTH (1937-50) OBE, BSc, PhD, DSc, FRSE, FRIC, was President of the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok. Now retired, living in Bangkok where he is FP Club Consul ARCHIBALD STEWART FRASER (1942-51), BSc, was lecturer in Geography in Australia from 1965. Believed now retired. ANDREW STEPHEN NOBLE (1939-52), MA, BA, LL.D was formerly managing director of Debenhams. FP Club President 1986-87. Died in September 2000 ERROLL GRAY ANDERSON (1945-53) was at one time a rubber planter in Malaysia. His death in Cumbria on 15 July is noted as the Magazine goes to press. ARCHIBALD STEWART HUNTER (1945-54), MB,CHB, DCH, MRCP(Glas), MRCPE is a consultant in paediatric cardiology at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. KENNETH RAE PETRIE (1952-55), after 35 years in the Royal Air Force is now on the staff of the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. DONALD ROSS NICOL (1943-56), BSc, PhD is head of the Physical Laboratory of AWA Research Laboratory in Sydney. Proxime Accessit - ALAN KEITH GORDON PATERSON (1943-56), MA, PhD has held the Chair of Spanish at St Andrew's University since 1984. MALCOLM SCOTT WEBSTER (1949-57), ARIBA is responsible for architectural matters in relation to estates factored by Burnett & Reid, advocates, Aberdeen. PHILIP NOEL LOVE (1952-58), CBE, DL, MA. LL.B, LL.D has been Principal of Liverpool University since 1992. Was the first Chairman of the Club Centre and was FP Club President in 1987-88. WILLIAM STEVENSON (1948-59), MA, FRCO after a career in Music is now Organist and Choirmaster of St Andrew's University. HECTOR MacQUEEN AIRD (1946-61) joined Police in Aberdeen, later switched to insurance and then to commerce. Died in 1975. GARTH WILLIAM GLENTWORTH (1948-61), MA is a senior Governance Adviser at the Department of International Development DOUGLAS WYNESS THOMSON PAUL (1949-62), MB,ChB, MRCGP was in general practice in Wick from 1969. Died in 1997. ROBIN ALEXANDER CRAIG (1952-63), MB,ChB was a general practitioner in Aberdeen from 1971. Died in 1985. DOUGLAS GIBB FOWLIE (1950-64), MB,ChB after service with the RAF as a neuro-psychiatrist is a consultant psychiatrist with Grampian Health Board at Banff HENRY RANKINE MILLAR (1952-65), MB,ChB is a consultant psychiatrist in Aberdeen. KENNETH ALEXANDER HAY (1960-66), CA is a chattered accountant in Luxembourg. JOHN HUTTON DUGUID (1962-67), BSc after 15 years in the sugar industry in South Africa now works as engineering manager with Fletcher Smith Ltd. in Derby designing and supplying sugar manufacturing equipment internationally. RUARAIDH DONALD JAMES McKAY (1955-68). No up-to-date information. * MARSHALL HENRY BYRES (1960-69), BSc, after service with the Inland Revenue joined a Hong Kong funk of accountants. Is FP Club Consul in Hong Kong. SCOTT HENDERSON (1964-70) BSc. No up-to-date information * JOHN LAING DUNCAN (1958-71) MB,ChB, ChM, FRCSE is a vascular surgeon at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. CAMPBELL ROSS FORDYCE PATERSON (1959-72), MA is Headmaster of the Preparatory School of Edinburgh Academy. LESLIE WILSON ROSS (1960-73). No up-to-date information * DOUGLAS McALLISTER (1961-74), BSc(Eng), PhD is an engineer with BP and is presently concerned with graduate staff recruitment for the company. JOHN WISEMAN (1969-75), BSc is a Project Manager with BP in Aberdeen GARY JAMES GRAHAM ALLAN (1963-76), LL.B was called to the Scottish Bar in 1994. WILLIAM GEDDIE WATT (1971-77), is Chief Executive of Martin Currie Ltd., Fund Managers in Edinburgh. 33
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 1978 1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
NEIL WILLIAM McDOWALL (1972-78), LL.B is Director of Legal Services with Aberdeenshire County Council. DAVID ALEXANDER McLEOD (1973-79) is regional business development manager with the Halliburton Company in Aberdeen. GILLIAN RUTH HUTCHISON (1974-79) (now Bradshaw), BSc works with British Airways in Birmingham in operational research. DEREK ALEXANDER HARLEY (1974-80), MA, DipEd is a modern languages teacher at Robert Gordon's College, He was Notes Editor of the Magazine from 1987-88 and General Editor 1988-94. LESLEY DOREEN FRASER (1974-80) (now Galloway), MB,ChB is in part-time general practice in Glasgow and is also on the staff of a Diabetic Clinic in the Southern General Hospital there. TIMOTHY EUAN McKAY (1976-81) is Deputy Head Teacher at Kemnay Academy. He is the first Head Boy to marry his Head Girl colleague FIONA MARGARET ANNE McCOMBIE (1975-81), MB,CliB, who is now Mrs Tim McKay, is a general practitioner in Inverune. JOHN MICHAEL STEELE (1976-82). No up-to-date information • CAROL ANN SARGENT (1976-82) (now Allemby), BSc, PhD is a biochemist with Astrazemeca in Leicester. DAVID SCOTT HUTCHISON (1977-83), BSc, BD, LTh retired recently on health grounds from full-time ministry at Tony St Fittick's Church, Aberdeen MELVILLE STUART WATSON (1978-83), MB,ChB is a general practitioner in Aberdeen JENNIFER ALISON INGRAM (1977-83)(now Gray), MA, PhD is head of the Geography De-partment at Albyn School for Girls in Aberdeen NIALL ANDREW STEELE (1978-84). No up-to-date information. • SUI-YEN AH SEE (1978- 84) (now Allison), MB,ChB is a general practitioner in Cambridge. DOUGLAS MORGAN WATSON (1979-85), LL.B is a partner in an Aberdeen law firm. He is the second Head Boy to many his Head Girl colleague. LESLEY SIAN CARSON (1981-85), MB,ChB, now Mrs Watson, is training as a pathologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. TIMOTHY JOHN ROLFE (1982-86), BSc, BA is a Training Captain with Bristow Helicopters in Aberdeen SALLYANNE HUTCHISON (1980-86). No up-to-date information. ' MICHAEL SUTHERLAND (1981-87), BSc is employed by Baker-Atlas in Aberdeen in computer development technology. RHONA MARGARET MacLENNAN (1981-87), MA works with Nike in Amsterdam, dealing with financial computing systems DAVID WILLIAM ALASTAIR STEWART (1982-88), BA, PhD after 51/2 years in sales and marketing with Mars is now Channel sales director in the Cauldwell Group. FIONA ELIZABETH BENNETT (1982-88). No up-to-date information. ' ALAN PHILIP ROCKWELL (1983-89), LL.B is a solicitor with an international law firm, living and working in London. EMMA THERESE ALLAN (1983-89). No up-to-date information. • PATRICK CHARLES DONALD STEWART (1984-90), LL.B has just taken up a post as in-house lawyer with a sports marketing company in Lucerne, Switzerland. He had been an assistant with an Edinburgh law firm for the past few years. YVONNE MARGARET McALLISTER (1974-90), LL.B works with BP's inhouse commercial law team in Aberdeen BARRY JOHN FRASER (1985-91), BSc is working on BP's Harding project for an Aberdeen oil consultancy. EMMA ALISON HENDRY (1985-91), is manager of Commercial Proposals with marine electronics manufacturers Nautronix in Aberdeen. 34
General Section 1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997 1998 1999 2000
2001
GORDON MACKAY INKSON (1986-92), LL.B is an assistant with an Aberdeen law firm. HELEN STRANG REID (1986-92), MA is a Primary school teacher, at present in a learning support role. NICHOLAS R. HALL (1987-93). No up-to-date information. • EMMA J. EDDIE (1987-93), MA is a teacher of Physical Education at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen. FERGUS C. SMALL (1988-94), MA is a Relationship Manager in the corporate banking department of the Royal Bank of Scotland in London. CHRISTINE A. FRASER (1988-94). No up-to-date information. • NICHOLAS ALLAN FAIR (1991-95), MA graduated from Edinburgh University in 2000 with honours in Economics. RUTH ELLEN DUKES (1989-95). No up-to-date information. • STEWART HAMISH FOWLIE (1990-96), is studying for an Arts degree at Edinburgh University. ANNA ROACH (1990-96), MA is an assistant clinical psychologist with Aberdeenshire Council. KEITH STRANG REID (1991-97), is studying Medicine at Edinburgh University. JILLIAN ANNE BAIN (1991-97), is a student at Glasgow School of Art. MICHAEL HEPBURN RENNIE (1992-98), is studying Medicine at Aberdeen. JULIE ALICE PATULLO (1992-98), is also a medical student at Aberdeen. SIMON JOHNSTON SMALL (1993-99), is studying Medicine at Edinburgh. KATE McMURRAY HURMAN (1993-99), is a student at Oxford University. CHRISTOPHER J. WHITCOMBE (1994-2000), is studying Maths & Statistics at Aberdeen University. REBECCA C. ENGWALL (1994-2000) is studying Law & French at Edinburgh University. NIALL METHVEN (1995-2001), after a year out in Australia will study Management & Marketing at Heriot Watt University. GEMMA REID (1995-2001), is studying Physiotherapy at Robert Gordon University.
Over the years there have been brothers, and brothers and sisters, who have received the award of the All Round Trophy- Bill and Sandy Lawrence in 1943 and 1946; Ruth and David Hutchison in 1979 and 1983; John and Niall Steele in 1982 and 1984; Stuart and Douglas Watson in 1983 and 1985; David and Patrick Stewart in 1988 and 1990; Helen and Keith Reid in 1992 and 1997 and Fergus and Simon Smail in 1994 and 1999. Two couples have married, as recorded above. Only one father and son appear in the list - Douglas Fowlie in 1964 and his son Stewart in 1996. * Up-to-date information about a number of Winners is lacking despite most diligent enquiries, and this is a matter of regret. Over its long history the Magazine has faithfully recorded details about Former Pupils' careers, distinctions, decorations and so forth when these have been noted in the press or submitted by members themselves. If anyone can assist with information about the handful of All Round Trophy winners about whom no current details are known, the Editor would be glad to have his records up-dated.
Our S.R.U. Presidential Quintet For a rugby club so far removed from the triangle of Glasgow, Edinburgh and The Borders, it is a matter of pride that Aberdeen Grammar School FPs have, since 1947, produced five Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union. two of whom served back-to-back. No other Scottish club has been able to equal or surpass this achievement. The rugby club has always been able to produce dedicated administrators of the highest 35
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
SRU Presidents
1; ‘,1
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4 ..
36
General Section calibre. Whilst Neil Meldrum never reached the dizzy heights of Presidency, his post-war contribution to FP Rugby, and in particular his ability to achieve fixtures against clubs who hardly even knew where Grammar FPs played, gave FPs the platform from which to become gradually recognised in senior rugby circles, With the advent of Leagues, FPs slowly climbed through the Divisions until this year they have attained promotion to the Premier Division. This was entirely due to hard work by the team and by coach John Fleming, but in the background the club committee has beavered away, ensuring the smooth running of club affairs. With Arthur McCulloch, our present District Representative, we hope to see a continuation of the presence of Grammar FPs at the heart of affairs in the S.R.U. In this, our promotion year, it seems appropriate to call to mind these five men, and while more detailed articles about them in one context or another have appeared in the Magazine from time to time over the years, I have prepared a synopsis of our five Presidents so that they appear together in one issue and may be recognised as the distinguished group which they undoubtedly are. Robert Mackay Ledingham (1897-1909) OBE, TD, MA, LL.B. In dreadful weather, on bad roads and over long distances, Bob for thirty years attended meetings in the North and Midlands, and in Edinburgh, as the Northern District representative on the S.R.U. His diligence was rewarded in 1961, when he was elected President of the S.R.U., the first Grammar FP to be honoured in this way. Almost seventy years of age at the time, it has been said that it was only his remarkable grit and courage which allowed him to be persuaded, so late in life, to take office. He was an administrator of the highest order and was a true servant to the cause of Rugby. His brother George had another FP first; he was the first FP to achieve a Scottish Cap - against France in 1913. John Robert Stephen Innes (1923-35) MB, ChB. An all-round sportsman, better known as Donny, his many talents were recognised at School where he gained caps for both rugby and cricket. In rugby, Donny was first capped for Scotland in 1939, he played for the British Army during the War, and afterwards he won caps in 1947 and 1948, captaining the national side in 1948. In the same season, under Donny's captaincy, FPs topped the unofficial championship. As an invaluable administrator to the game at all levels from 1949, including a term as North District representative to the S.R.U., Donny was elected President of the Union for the year 1973-74. He brought to that office the qualities of self-discipline, control and authority, coupled with an unfailing courtesy, which have been his hall-mark throughout his life. Donny's contribution to School, FPs and Scottish Rugby was marked by a commemorative party in the Club Centre last January, when over 100 people attended to pay tribute to his remarkable rugby career. As a permanent reminder of the occasion, he was presented with a silver quaich bearing the School crest and, perhaps less permanently, a special bottle of vintage Macallan. Douglas William Cumming Smith (1930-41) OBE, MB,ChB, MFDM (London) Doug was an outstanding athlete, cricketer and rugby player at both School and University, at both of which some of his athletics records are still unsurpassed. His time of 10 seconds for 100 yards, established in 1941. was still unbeaten at the School at the time of metrication. and so remains the School record for the distance. Doug was another stalwart of the outstanding 1947-1948 FP Rugby side, playing with fellow internationalists W.D. (Dally) Allardyce and J.R.S. (Donny) Innes. Doug gained 8 Scottish caps, the first in 1949, and toured as a British Lion in New Zealand in 1950. In 1973 he returned as manager of the victorious Lions in New Zealand, acknowledged then as the best ever British Lions team. He was elected President of the S.R.U. in 1986-87. 37
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine William Lewis Cannon (1930-40) B.L. Bill was yet another all-rounder. Apart from rugby, his other great interest was golf, and among a variety of other appointments he was for many years secretary of Murcar Golf Club and of the Northern Open Golf Championship and also served on the Executive Committee of the Scottish Golf Union. Bill was another member of the 1947-48 FP Rugby team in which he was a highly effective prop forward. In 1959 Bill became secretary of the North District Rugby Union and ten years later he became the North District Representative on the S.R.U. In 1973 he became a Special Representative to the Union. Bill was convener of the Championship Committee and was thus instrumental in the introduction of the S.R.U. Championship in the late 1970s and the implementation of all the detail which this entailed. He was for a period one of the two representatives of the S.R.U. on the International Rugby Football Board. In a unique double act, he was, in 1986-87, senior vice-president of the Union to President Doug Smith and he was elected President in succession to Doug for 1987-88. During his years of S.R.U. duty, Bill toured Romania, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Charles Ritchie (1945-1951) Hooker and prop, Charlie was part of the much feared and formidable FP front row of Thomas, Smith and Ritchie. Charlie had a Scottish Trial in season 1966/67 and as North/Midlands hooker/prop played against the touring sides of Australia. New Zealand and South Africa. One of the real front row stoics and hard-men, typical of Charlie's attitude to the game was delaying a pain-killing injection until the last minute to get the maximum pain-free time playing. In 1974 he became the North District Representative to the S.R.U. and acted as Secretary to the North District. In recognition of his dedication he was appointed a Special Representative in 1982. He was Liaison Officer from 1986-1996 to all the major rugby playing countries touring Scotland. He was Scotland's Tour Manager to Australia in 1992 and Liaison Officer to the Rugby World Cup in 1995. His long service to the interests of Scottish Rugby was recognised in 1997 when he was elected as President of the Union for 1997-98 - FPs' fifth holder of that office. Charlie continues this season as FP Rugby Club President - his third year.
I would like to thank the Art Department of the School for the graphic work of the layout of the photographs of the Presidents and the Byron Statue. R. R. COMBER (1947-52)
A Greenhorn in the Rockies I have been staring at thefirefor some time. Like me, it has settledfrom thefury ofits youth into stability with the passage oftime. Theflames are lesser than before, but the embers are hotter, and send a shimmering vortex of warmed air skyward. Any fire has a certain magnetism which pulls you in under its influence, and this fire is certainly that. As the sun slowly sinks behind the Rockies, allsofamiliar like oldfriends. I am cradled in that no-mans land offatigue and contentment at the end ofa long day. The failing light is now too dark to write by, so recording this latest adventure in a tatteredjournal must wait. Suddenly a gust ofwind reddens the embers and sends a shower ofsparks skyward. I am jolted out ofmy drowsiness, and there, across the flames from me is a figure. The silhouette moved closer, but frightening as this seems, it poses no threat. He is a young man, dressed in khaki, and through the play oflight I can sense his expression ofexcitement and keenness. In an instant I know who the man is, where the fire is and why it remains so memorable. The man was lain and, like me back in 1978, he was an Edinburgh University student. That summer we had scrimped and saved enough to spend two months in the Canadian 38
General Section
Rockies, but despite our meticulous preparations they were to prove well beyond anything our imaginations had prepared us for. And that night - our first in bear country - our senses were a-tingle with the excitement of our journey now begun. With the irrelevancies of keys, passports and money zipped into the least accessible parts of our packs, we had turned our backs on civilisation. And there, like many unfamiliar with the backcountry, we sat staring at the flames, reluctant to leave their security for our tent, fearful that a 1500 pound grizzly would amble slowly into camp and devour us where we lay. Despite our obsession with safety from bears, we had walked the trail that day seeing none. At camp we became almost hyper-vigilant, feeling we were being watched. Bears can smell a human five miles away, and will consume anything edible left on the ground, so all food and other items such as sun cream and toothpaste must be cached - suspended between two trees. four metres above the ground. With the weight of three weeks' food, this proved more difficult than it sounded. As the light faded that July evening, the vertical limestone cliffs on the mountains had chiselled themselves into the darkening sky. Stars appeared like seeds germinating from a black soil until at last the galaxy was spread out above us. The vastness, so silent during the day, had become filled with a hundred unfamiliar sounds, all of which teased the general tiredness which had threatened to overwhelm us. Under the light of a crescent moon, the shadows crept with stealth across the landscape, and every root, every boulder, every shadow, looked for all the world like a bear. Far from the tough young explorers we imagined ourselves to be, with all our Munros behind us, we were two greenhorns, whose Scottish hill experience counted for little in a foreign land. The scale was deceptive - the scenery was bigger and distances farther than we imagined. Our well-practised navigation proved to be little help, as the maps were far less accurate than those of the Ordnance Survey. Our trail ran up the Cline valley and over Sunset pass, but criss-crossed the river a dozen times, and trail finding was all about finding the line of least resistance. After this initiation, our next adventure was Jasper National Park's infamous North Boundary trail (135 miles; recommended walking time 12 - 14 days). We were determined to do it in a week, if only to see the face of the warden who told us this was 'impossible'. It was described as a long, lonely trail, which sounded perfect to us - and this would prove accurate, as in the first 100 miles we would see only three other people. On the trail itself, camping was only permitted in specific backcountry sites, in order to minimise human impact. These had a water source, some flat land, a privy and a metal fire-box, which we used whenever possible to spare our supply of gas cylinders for the stove. Campsites were conveniently arranged to be about seven or eight miles apart, so hikers could go one or two sites in a day. But this advice was not crafted for 'invincible'19-year-olds with a shortage of humility. They do this before lunch. The following day we had left Shalebanks campsite early on a well made trail. By midmorning, we were gazing in wonder at Snake Indian falls, a massive drop of the river over a rock ledge, framed by a limestone gorge. By lunchtime we had covered the 16 miles to Willow Creek campsite, and lain asked me if I was sufficiently tired to stop. With my feet taped up to prevent blisters, I later found they were, like my shoulders, bruised under the load carrying of the pack. "Are you kidding?" I replied, and on we went. Another eight miles to the next camp-site. "Iain - are you tired?" "Not me - are you?" And on we went! After a total of 32 miles, we arrived at Blue Creek campsite and collapsed exhausted, to the utter disbelief of two fishermen from Wisconsin. They were taking the best part of a month over the trail, and ate freshly caught fish every night, washed down with beer they were carrying. From the comfort of their 'cathedral-sized' tent our equipment and attitude must have seemed equally spartan. When they asked why we were 'racing back to civilisation' I realised that in terms of experience, they were the ones who were overtaking us. Ours was at risk of becoming subsumed into the physical challenge of putting miles beneath our feet. As the trip wore on, we gradually settled into the pace of the trail - and still averaged more than 25 miles a day, but with less effort, as our packs became lighter. Snow clad mountains appeared to the south west in the distance, although it would be another three days before we saw them up close. We went over Snake Indian Pass, down the Twintree river, up the Smokey river, and over Robson Pass to Berg Lake, crossing the great divide into British Columbia. In doing so, we left the solitude of our own company, the Lodgepole 39
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Pine, Engleman Spruce and 35°C temperatures behind, and entered the moist habitat of the Douglas Fir and the Red Cedar. We were a few miles beyond the more popular campsite for the hundreds of backpackers and mountaineers wishing to see Mount Robson - at almost 13,000 feet, highest of the Canadian Rockies. Despite the rain, we were looking forward to a day without full packs, for a day walk up Snowbird Pass, and although we had no crampons or ice axes, we found the glacier itself was sufficiently rocky to provide firm footing. That night we were awoken by a deafening explosion - the steep glacier was calving into the lake, and buildingsized blocks of ice sent enormous waves crashing onto our shore several minutes later. Our final day was the long descent from Robson Lake, about 22 miles to the trailhead down the valley of a thousand waterfalls - in spectacular array after recent rain. We were already feeling crowded by the regular stream of day-hikers which became more concentrated the further we descended. It was a sign of our proximity to civilisation when we no longer said hello to oncoming day-walkers. Later that evening, ensconsed in a provincial park campsite, all 135 miles of trail behind us, our camp was visited by two black bears. They left us entirely alone but proceeded to make a forcible entry inside a station wagon in the adjoining pitch, window ajar, bristling with the aroma of fresh food. lain and I could only look on aghast, at the carnage spreading to within feet of our own tent. It was still dark when we caught the Greyhound back to Jasper. With youthful pride, we returned our two week backcountry permit to the warden, seven days older and considerably wiser. **•
Four years later I was back in the same area. In the intervening time, I had come to know the Rockies as my home, climbing and backpacking in summer, and ski touring in winter. Earlier, I had graduated from the Outdoor Pursuits programme at the University of Calgary, combining Physical Education with mountaineering, skiing and other forms of wilderness adventure. I had joined a mountain expedition in which we were flown into the Premier range, west of Jasper (named after Canadian prime ministers), in the hope of scaling some unclimbed summits. As the helicopter's drone became distant, the suddenness, irreversibility and isolation of our trip hit home. It felt strange to have to put so much trust in the others. I was perched high on a glacier, surrounded by gaping crevasses and total strangers, not knowing which to be more afraid of! The expedition, if five individuals count as one, did scale two unclimbed peaks, but far more significant for me was to arrive at a summit which we believed to be a first ascent, to find a small cairn. Inside it was a metal container containing a yellow scrap of paper bearing three long Italian names and the date 1949. We had made the second ascent, a third of a century later. They had had no helicopter to move the peak closer to their grasp, but (we were later to discover) a dozen packhorses and a three week siege awaiting the chance to gain the upper snowfields. The weather had been perfect. Robson itself was resplendent under an azure sky, some 30 miles to the east. There had been plenty excitement, as if to remind us that in a split second, success could so easily have become tragedy. A few of us had fallen into crevasses and dangled for a while before we could climb out. More serious was the ascent of a snow gully when three of the others were moving together. The sun had softened the surface, and one of them lost footing, pulling oft- the others one after the other. All three gained speed as they approached the mouth of a crevasse, and one disappeared, but the second stopped at the lip, held by the third above. We later agreed it was equally terrifying to stare helplessly on, than to experience a scare at first hand. With the climbing over, we were to escape from the high country, not by helicopter, but on foot. We estimated a two day journey for the 15 miles to Tete Jaune, which began with the long descent of a glacier which had never seen the soles of any human feet. Packed up and moving before the sun could soften the snow, we made good progress at first. The rope - our umbilical life-link - threaded its sinuous way between the yawning crevasses we could see, and countless others buried under the snow. Our crampons bit into the ice and karibiners and ice-screws clinked and jangled at our sides in an otherwise silent moming. Below the snow line the ice was hard, and there were a few wrenched knees as we jumped 40
General Section
the smaller crevasses beneath our burdens. We slowed considerably as the crevasses got bigger and more numerous. The sun was beyond its climax, but the afternoon heat was the most dangerous time of day to be on the ice. We were aware of the sound of running water as the afternoon melt flowed before disappearing into the belly of the glacier, and the whine of the occasional airborne rock after the ice securing it in place melted on the steeper sections. Worst of all, the glacial snout was a contorted three dimensional maze of deep openings and serac towers which looked ready to drop. We abseiled off onto what looked to be dry rock, but turned out to be quicksand, formed from the mica the glacier had eroded out of the rock beneath. It was early evening, and there was still 3,000 feet to descend to the valley floor, following the stream which cut a gorge into the friable rock. The forest cover grew thicker as we descended, seeking a route through the increasingly impenetrable bush. On the way, we flushed a yearling black bear from it's vantage up a hemlock tree. In our tiredness there was little concern - but later at camp we saw fresh grizzly prints in the river mud only a few yards from the tents. What a cocktail of emotions. The victorious mountaineering forgotten, the exhaustion of a 13 hour day sinking in, and the surge of adrenaline as we contemplated a silvertip grizzly stalking us. The only thing to do was to build a fire... The flames are surging again, and i notice that lain is no longer there - it is someone else. He is a darkfigure, hard to make out. is he one ofthe loggers who hadfelled the Tete Jaune valley in the 1950s? Is he one of the Italian mountaineers ofthe 1940s whose legacy would live on far after our own meagre efforts wereforgotten, or one ofthe Swiss mountain guides employed by the Canadian National railway to bring mountain climbing tourists to the area? Is he a lonely prospector who panned the river for gold at the turn of the 20th century? Is he a fur trapper from the east running lines up several valleys, or even one of thefirst white explorers to seek a route through the Rockies in the early 1800s? But the dark weatherbeaten figure is none of these. He is an Indian - possibly ofPeigan or Kootenai bands He sits assertively, silently and motionless. His gaze is penetrating. Another wind gust and another shower ofsparks. The embers are more red, but thefire has burned down low The Indian is gone. I awake with a start andfind my nib has spread a large ink stain across my journal, obliterating the last few pages. and spreading backwards in time through the fear, joy and excitement of my Rockies adventures . Of course there is no Indian, - I have been dreaming. But the dream left an indelible mark, unlike the previous inhabitants of this vast land. Reading my diary today, the ink stain is still there. Where, I wonder, is the Indian?
Arthur D. Stewart (1963-76)
Swabbing the decks on Stavros S Niarchos I awoke to the news that it was 3.30 am, raining, and I was expected to be on deck in half an hour! In the sleep muddled haze that followed I tried to remember where I left my waterproofs while also trying to remind myself that this had once seemed a good idea. It was the start of a week aboard one of the Tall Ships sailing around the Azores Islands with a crew of volunteers whom I'd never met. I'd been on boats before, but nothing like this, and until I arrived I was proud to know the difference between port and starboard. Choosing one of the 'any' age voyages meant that most of the volunteers were significantly older than me; however two girls were my age and everyone was great anyway, The idea was that we sailed around the Azores while gaining some (unique) sailing experience. Most hoped to see the whales which are common to the area and, as a Marine Biologist, that sounded pretty good to me. The boat itself was pretty awe-inspiring at 195 feet long and square rigged on two masts; however, with a volunteer crew of around sixty and ten permanent (professional) crew there sometimes seemed to be very little spare space. As the week progressed we all got the opportunity to handle ropes, sails and helm, to practice navigation, go aloft (climb up the masts) and plenty of practice in cleaning. The whole crew was split into three teams and each took a 'watch', which consists of doing everything necessary to sail the boat for four hours (although some things do require 41
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
everyone to be on deck). The watch system rotated, allowing everyone to sail different hours of the day. Sleeping comes a close second with everyone trying to grab five minutes whenever the chance arises. Like watches, meals also happen at two different times so that there is always a team sailing the boat. Although a few people helped in the galley every day there was a permanent cook and the food was plentiful as well as good. Everyone had to get stuck into to the cleaning and daily meetings with the captain to outline the day's plan; there were also chances to attend talks on sails etc. for those who were interested in pursuing sailing further. The week was packed with 'firsts' as I saw around some of the islands, sailed at night, saw common dolphins swimming alongside the boat and also climbed the 100 feet-plus masts. Tall Ships Experiences like these won't leave you suddenly able to sail any boat - it is also debatable whether it will leave you tanned, relaxed and rested. However it will challenge you, provide you with amazing tales to tell your friends, let you meet a wide variety of people, and quite possibly leave you hooked. And, if my week was anything to go by, then everyone plays just as hard as they work! I sailed over one hundred nautical miles and I am now trying to organise some dinghy sailing experience in order to complete my Royal Yachting Association Competent Crew Course. To anyone who wants to do this I would recommend just getting out there and doing it. I did.... However I'm only able to say that did' because of the encouragement and help which the FP Club providedfor me. 'Thank you for helping me to realise my dream. If anyone wants more details on the Tall Ship Experience they should contact the Sail Training Association
at 2A The Hard, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3PT. Jennifer Fyfe (1992-98) [As is apparent from the closing paragraph, Jennifer received some financial assistance from the Club towards the cost of what was obviously an interesting and stimulating experience for her]
42
Former Pupils' Club Section
Former Pupils' Club Founded 11 September 1893 Club Office-Bearers, 2001-2002 Honorary President: WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON, BSc, DipEd. (Rector) Honorary Vice-Presidents: IAN G. McPHERSON (1910-17), (President, 1965-66) EDWARD. J. WOOD (1908-21), MA (President, 1966-67) GEORGE E.C. BARTON (1923-26), MA (President, 1973-74) The Very Revd. J. FRASER McLUSKEY (1920-31), MC, DD (President, 1974-75) JOHN W. CRADOCK (1941-46), CA (President, 1977-78) T. GORDON COUTTS (1938-49), QC, MA, LL.B (President, 1980-81) JAMES A.N. WATT (1927-39), CA (President, 1982-83) BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), TD, MA, LL.B (President, 1983-84) ERIC D. WATT (1937-50), BEd. (President, 1984-85) ALAN J. PETERS (1920-30), CA IAN LEWIS SMITH (1918-30), BSc, AMICE, MlnstR. DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON (1929-40) (President, 1985-86) Prof. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58), CBE, DL, MA, LL.B, LL.D (President, 1987-88) W. MORRISON BROWN (1933-46) (President, 1988-89) ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) (President, 1989-90) T. IAN MORRISON (1934-47), TD, BSc, MSc, CChem, FRSC, (President, 1990-91) ARTHUR L. McCOMBIE, MS, FSA(Scot) (Deputy Rector, 1973-90) DR. J.R.S. INNES (1923-35), MB,ChB. (President, 1991-92) A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-53), TEng (CEI), MInstEA (President, 1992-93) IAN M. DUGUID (1938-43), OduM, MD, PhD, FRCS, FCOpth, LL.D, DO, (President, 1993-94) MELVILLE F. WATSON (1943-56), MA, LL.B (President, 1994-95) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59), RIBA, FRIAS (President, 1996-97) J. EDWARD FRASER (1936-49), CB, MA, BA, FSA(Scot) (President, 1997-98) RICHARD H. CRADOCK (1940-51) (President, 1998-99) CHARLES RITCHIE (1945-51) (President 1999-2000) RICHARD F. TYSON (1944-49) (President 2000-01) BASIL D.D. EMSLIE (1929-35) President: STEPHEN A.C. ROBERTSON (1939-51) MBE, MA, LL.B, MUniv Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: MARTIN JEFFREY (1942-57) BSc. Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65) LL.B Treasurer: ALAN W. MARR (1969-75) CA General & Notes Editor of Magazine: BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46) TD, MA, LL.B 43
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Secretaries of Centres Club Centre - BRIAN DEIGHTON, 172 Springfield Road, Aberdeen AB15 7SD Canada - J. PETER JEFFREY (1944-59), 2635 Fifth Line Road, RR#1, Dunrobin, Ontario K0A ITO, Canada Edinburgh - NIGEL G. M. WATT (1963-69), WS, 5 Melville Cres, Edinburgh EH3 7JA Glasgow - BASIL D. D. EMSLIE (1929-35), Flat 8, Westerton of Mugdock, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8LQ London - SANDY NICOL (1962-71), 4 Avenue Gardens, Acton, London W3 8HA Yorkshire - DOUGLAS SKENE (1959-64), Curlew Cottage, Main Street, Nabum, York YO19 4PN Secretaries of Sections Cricket - RICHARD S.T. FERRO, 12 Kirk Brae Avenue, Cults, Aberdeen Curling - BRUCE S. ALLAN (1953-58), 55 Carden Place, Aberdeen Football - CRAIG STUART (1980-86), 17 Boyd Orr Close, Craighill, Aberdeen Golf - PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967-73), LL.B, 10 Anderson Drive, Aberdeen Hockey - CHARLES C. SMITH (1977-83), 42 Concraig Park, Kingswells, Aberdeen Petanque - STEVEN J. C. ESSON (1951-64), Fairfield, 9 Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen Rugby - DAVID ROBINSON, 19 Crollshillock Place, Newtonhill, Aberdeen Swimming - ANGUS J. THOMPSON (1969-75), 48 Camperdown Road, Aberdeen Women's Hockey - EMMA A. HENDRY (1985-91), 105 Brighton Place, Aberdeen Executive Committee The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman NORMAN GARDEN (1960-66), lice-Chairman The Secretary, the Treasurer and the General Editor of the Magazine, ex officiis The Rector of the School, ex officio ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) W. MICHAEL MURRAY (1945-54) MELDRUM B. EDWARDS (1947-60) IAN P. SOUTER (1947-61) NORMAN K.B. EDWARDS (1959-64) INNES J. TAYLOR (1974-80) STEVEN J.C. ESSON (1951-64) ANGUS J. THOMPSON (1969-75) NORMAN GARDEN (1960-66) HELEN C. WALLIS (1981-87) JOHN G. MITCHELL (1990-96) G. FRASER WEBSTER (1949-62) HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) MORAG WISELY (1988-94) Section Representatives Club Centre - RONALD R.COMBER (1947-52) Cricket - IAIN S. HOPKIN (1962-68) Curling - BRUCE S. ALLAN (1953-58) Football - CRAIG STUART (1980-86) Golf - GORDON M. INKSON (1986-92) Hockey - DAVID S. LEIGHTON (1959-72) Petanque - RONALD R. COMBER (1947-52) Rugby - DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON (1929-40) Staff - RUSSELL GRAY (1951-65) Swimming Women's Hockey - LUCY MITCHELL (1985-90) Auditors Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A. Club Centre Committee (• Denotes member of Management Team) RONALD R. COMBER• - Chairman BRIAN DEIGHTON'- Secretary HARVEY E. MORRISON - Treasurer 44
Former Pupils' Club Section W.B. BROWN, N.K.B. EDWARDS N. GARDEN*, H.A.S. HAMILTON, J.F. HENDRY, I.S. HOPKIN*, G.M. INKSON, J.M. JEFFREY, S. JOHNSON, B. JOHNSON, D.S. LEIGHTON*, D. McDONALD, J.D. MOIR, W.M. MURRAY* R. NICOLSON, C. RITCHIE, G. TAWSE.
Club Consuls Australia - JIM W. HOWISON (1937-50), 100 Curtin Avenue, Wabroonga, New South Wales 2076, Australia, Tel. 00-61-2-9487-3164 E-mail: howison@tech2.com.au Australia - DR. FORBES J. SMITH (1945-57), Level 10, 409 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3004. Tel. 00-61-3-9820-4170 E-mail: forbessmith@nabenet.com.au Canada - GORDON B. SINGER (1949-50), Box 7, Site 5, RR #2, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T0L ITO, Tel. 00-1-403-995-0331. Canada - IAN McG. MARR (1954-58), 4 Milne Crescent, Kanata, Ontario, Canada, K2K 1H6, Tel. 00-1-613-592-2730 E-mail: marri@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Canada - DAVID R. AULD (1947-61), 2187 Lafayette Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8S 2P2, Tel. 00-1-250-595-0616 E-mail: david_auld@telus.net Corsica - IAIN WARES (1941-52), Via G.M. Angioi 34, Cagliari 09124, Sardinia, Italy. Tel. 00-39-070 652508 Falkland Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands - DONALD A. LAMONT, c/o FCO Stanley, King Charles Street, London SW IA 2AH E-mail: donaldlamont@ftnetwork.com Hong Kong - MARSHALL H. BYRES (1960-69), 2A Hatton House, 15 Kotewall Road, Hong Kong, Tel. 00-852-2846-9878. E-mail: marshall.byres@hk.eyi,com Ireland - ANDREW M.M. STEVEN (1936-50), 5 Beechhill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 6NS. Tel. 028-9070-2315. Malaysia - GRAEME W. KING (1966-72), No 89 Lorong Buluh Perindu 1, Taman S A Bukit Damansara, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia TeVFax. 00-60-3-252-1105 E-mail: gwIcing@pc.jaring.my New Zealand - MICHAEL B. THOMSON (1938-51), 39 Jubilee Road, Khandallah, Wellington 4, New Zealand Tel. 00-64-4-479-5678. E-mail: thomson.wgtn@xtra.co.nz Thailand - PROF. ALASTAIR M. NORTH (1937-50), 79/78 Soi 7/I Mooban Tararom, Rainkhamhaeng Road Soi 150, Saphan Soong, Bangkok 1024, Thailand, Tel. 00-66-2373-28 I 8, E-mail: North@ait.ac.th
Annual General Meeting The ninety-seventh Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Club Centre, 86 Queen's Road, Aberdeen on Monday 26 March 2001 at 7.30 pm. Mr J. Martin Jeffrey, the Vice-President, was in the Chair. Chairman's Report Deaths The Chairman noted with regret the death during the past year of one of the Elonorary Vice-Presidents, Andrew S. Noble, who had been President in 1986-87, and he referred to the deaths of Dr Ranald Steven and Hugh Thomas. Membership The Chairman reported that membership of the Club is now just over 1000 Communication The Magazine is the flagship of the Club and will remain so. The Newsletters which have been issued since last summer have been well received, but it is recognised that there is scope for improvement. The proposed website should be up and running by summer 2001. 45
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Richard F Tyson with his Presentation Quaich
46
Former Pupils' Club Section Rubislaw Field The question of developments at the Field is to be the focus of a huge amount of attention in the coming months. There is the chance now to develop an outstanding sports facility at Rubislaw.
Social An excellent Dinner, with over 200 in attendance, was held in October, and thanks were due to Norman Garden for his arrangements for this event. A second May Ball had been held, not quite so well supported as in the previous year, and the future of such events is under consideration.
School The Chairman referred to the review of school names conducted by the City Council and to the satisfactory outcome, from the School's point of view. He paid tribute to the Rector for his support in the approach adopted by the Executive to this delicate matter. He also reported that the Club is shortly to present to the School oak panels containing the names of all winners of the All-Round Trophy which would match the existing boards with the names of Rectors and Duxes of the School.
Club Centre The past year had been a tough one for the Club Centre although the situation shows signs of improving. The Centre benefits for the meantime from an interest free loan obtained by the Club, but the Centre still needs more members in the premises more (len and spending more money.
General Business Section Reports Reports were submitted by representatives of the various Sections and the Club Centre, and similar Reports appear elsewhere in this Magazine.
Accounts and Treasurer's Report The 2000 Accounts (reproduced at the end of this Magazine) were submitted and approved. The Treasurer reported a profit of £ 199 as compared with a loss of £861 in the previous year. He commented on the increase in subscription income and on the impact of the new top-up scheme for Life Members which had brought a gratifying response. Election of Office-Bearers Officials of the Club were elected in accordance with the list published elsewhere in this
Magazine. Auditors Messrs Bower & Smith, CA, were unanimously re-appointed Auditors of the Club and Section Accounts for the coming year.
Presentation At the close of the meeting the Chairman of the Executive presented the retiring President, Dick Tyson, with a handsome Quaich, suitably inscribed, on behalf of the members of the Club, as a memento of his year in office and in token of the esteem in which he was held. In terms of the Club Constitution, the Annual General Meeting is always held on the last Monday in March The 2002 A.G.M. will therefore be held on Monday, 25 March at 7.30 p.m. in the Club Centre, 86 Queen's Road. Aberdeen
47
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
President's Report "The School and the Club" is a toast I first proposed some years ago after I had accepted the Presidency of the Yorkshire Centre. Proposing that toast for the first time gave me great pleasure and it still does. My year as President has given me a much better insight into the working of the Club, and has reinforced my views that it has a very important part to play in the life of the School. In 1893 Morland Simpson, then Rector of the School and the man credited with responsibility for the formation of the Former Pupils' Club, said that a club should be formed not merely for athletic purposes but in order to combine all interests (social, athletic and the like) and so bind together past and present pupils of the School. In 1942 Sir James Robertson, who was Rector in my schooldays, expressed the opinion that a good school and its club should be one, not two, working in close co-operation and harmony. At the 1963 Dinner, when Sir James proposed the toast of "The School and the Club" part of what he had to say was "Advice to you? Just what the founder gave the Club when it was young - exist primarily for the School- . I am very aware that the current Executive members are motivated by this principle, but they need the co-operation of all FPs to achieve their objectives So long as we all remain true to that principle, and everybody with whom we come in contact realises this to be the case, our views will be taken seriously and the Club's future will be assured. In many ways the Club has had a very good year. I am not going to go into detail, because these matters are covered elsewhere in the Magazine and Newsletters, but the things which I have in mind are the Club's improving financial position and the considerably reduced financial loss of the Club Centre, although maintaining membership numbers is a struggle. We had successful Dinners in Aberdeen and in the Centres in Canada, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Yorkshire. London did not hold their usual Dinner, but I firmly believe that this is a temporary hiccup and plans are in hand for a re-timed function in May. The Rugby Section has had a spectacularly successful year. The Cricket Section had difficulty in fielding sides and I am all in favour of the alliance with Gordonians in order to keep a side in the Strathmore Union. The Hockey Section is still enthusiastic despite the lack of facilities at Rubislaw. The other Sports Sections, Football, Golf, Curling, Petanque and Swimming continue to attract members and contribute to the success of the Club. For a second time we have survived an attempt to change the name of the School, thanks in no small measure to the good sense of the citizens of Aberdeen. I feel compelled to quote another of the School's remarkable former Rectors, Robert Gill who, at the Aberdeen Dinner in 1986, said "Aberdeen Grammar School is part of the heritage of the City and, far from being elitist, is probably the most comprehensive school in Aberdeen; its continuing existence is exactly consistent with present educational needs and with the wishes of the local electorate" - prophetic words, indeed! Thinking of the School, 1 must say that attending the Prize-giving with my wife and enjoying a tour of the School were certainly highlights of the year. It was my first visit to the School since 1949, and the only time I have felt comfortable in the Rector's office. I dare say everybody scrutinised last year's Magazine enthusiastically, but nevertheless I cannot resist drawing attention to two items - the last paragraph of the Rector's report on page 5, which refers to the school inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectors, and a snippet from the report of the activities of the Literary & Debating Society which reads, "It's official Aberdeen Grammar School is now the top state school in Scotland for debating - Hooray!" Hooray indeed - two tremendous achievements which must give us great pride in our old School and make us realise the dedication which the Rector and all the School staff have displayed in achieving these results. As I mentioned earlier, the Club is thriving, but we do need more members and one of the clarion calls of my Centre speeches has been to exhort all Club members to do their best to encourage FPs who are not Club members to join now. I notice that Tim Morrison made a very similar appeal in the 1991 Magazine. Perhaps it should be done around every ten years, and I can actually claim some small success in this matter myself. The other main objective of my Presidential year has been to point out that the Club is still not sufficiently female friendly and we are not doing enough to attract lady FPs into our midst. Half our prospective members are girls, and when we choose venues for our various functions we must ensure that they are equally attractive to both sexes. The various committees in Aberdeen and the Centres are almost bereft of female representation, so I 48
Former Pupils' Club Section hope that all lady FPs will realise that not only does the Club welcome their membership, but it needs their support and their input would be a tremendous help. The Presidential year has been fulfilling, even at times demanding, and I owe much to the support of my wife who, apart from writing out speeches and letters in her clear hand has accompanied me to events in Aberdeen several times, as well as attending the Glasgow dinner and, of course, the Yorkshire dinner as usual. I wish my successor, Steve Robertson, who will undoubtedly be an excellent President, as much pleasure and satisfaction as 1 have had from my year in office, a year which has left me with many happy memories and has re-awakened thoughts about my good fortune in attending Aberdeen Grammar School and about the pleasure which has resulted from joining the FP Club the year I left School. To be elected President of the FP Club is indeed an honour, and of course I have a permanent reminder on our sideboard in the form of a beautiful silver quaich presented to me by Martin Jeffrey at the Annual General Meeting on completion of my term of office. Dick Tyson (1944-49)
Presidential Profile Stephen Andrew Cormack Roberston MBE, MA, LL.B, MUniv. (1939-51) President 2001-02 Steve came to the School in 1939. History does not record the immediate impact of his entry into that august institution nor his influence, if any, on the outbreak of the Second World War. However, the Lower School was to make its mark on him when he played the King, dressed in his mother's fur coat, in one of Miss Duff's more esoteric productions. The thespian seed had been planted and took root in the Upper School following his portrayal of the winsome Molly Morden in John Steinbeck's The Moon is Down, complete with luxuriant blonde wig. An enduring and compelling love of the stage had been established. At Aberdeen University, Steve's progress towards his degree in Arts was unremarkable but his degree in Law was interrupted by a number of competing interests. First and foremost, the Students' Show. Steve joined the cast of the Show in 1952, and it was not long before he was its star. It was there that the public received its first hint of Sandy Thomson frae Auchterturra, that famous telephonic interlocutor of the Queen, who was to become such a favourite of Steve's comedy in later years. He also became immersed in the affairs of the Students' Union becoming, successively, Secretary and President of that great social centre. And, thirdly, there was Higby, his open topped MG, which set him above all others and accounted, at least in part, for his extraordinary success with the ladies. Law Degree completed, Steve was called to serve in Her Majesty's Forces. It is not known whether this was as a result of a phone call (their first?) but soon after joining, the Queen was pleased to confer on Stephen a commission in the Royal Corps of Signals which he undertook with great stoicism and self-denial at Catterick. The fact that by this time he had married his beautiful and talented wife, Eva, may have helped. Following Army Service and his return to Aberdeen, Steve entered the practice and profession of the Law, first with the firm of Allan, Buckley. Allan & Co., of which he became sole partner and then, upon amalgamation, as a partner in Wilsone and Duffus. But the call of the stage was strong and Sandy Thomson was ever on his shoulder. Steve teamed up with Buff Hardie and George Donald, and after success at the Edinburgh Festival, all three decided to go professional in Scotland the What?. One career abandoned for another and the rest, as they say, is history. Scotland the What? went from success to success. It was a hit on stage and television. It was loved especially by Scots all over the world, but had an appreciative audience wherever it played. The boys established their very own niche in the entertainment world and were honoured by Her Majesty herself (after another phone call, of course) with the award of MBE in 1995. That was not the only honour that came the boys' way. In the previous year, they were awarded the degree of Master of the University by a grateful University for their sterling work during the University's Quincentenial celebrations when they travelled tirelessly up and down the country encouraging graduates to remember their Alma Mater and contribute to her continuing success. 49
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Stephen A. C. Robertson (1939-51).
50
Former Pupils' Club Section Steve has now retired from the stage and Scotland the What? is no more. So, what now? For a man who won the School half-mile in 1951 he has, understandably, an abiding interest in Sport. Not only that, he captained one of the School Fifteens, the exact number of which has been lost. He was a diligent but curiously detached scrum half who developed an air of vulnerability which endeared him to his team mates and which, once perfected, proved irresistible to all who knew him. He played Squash for the University and was captain of the Aberdeen Squash Racquets Club for many years. Now, in rather less energetic mode, he plays a conscientious game of golf. He has his cottage in Braemar which he is steadily transforming into a mansion fit for his retirement, and where his enthusiasm for drystane-dyking (by his own hand) is given extravagant expression. And, of course, he has his family. His delightful wife, Eva, who has, over the years, unsuccessfully tried to instill a little realism into his life, his daughter, Sally Ann, who has presented him with four lively grandchildren and his son, young Stephen, who is so like his father that the old man can't see it! And, now, he is our President. He will be a wonderful ambassador for the Club - genial, modest, warm, witty - a clubbable man par excellence. A couthy companion, the more so as the night extends into the wee sma"ours, and now a Founder Fellow of the Institute of Contemporary Scotland into the bargain. What more could we want or expect? We are indeed fortunate to have such a man as our President. He will do us proud! A.E.M. (1945 - 51) Two Loyal Servants reach Major Milestones The history of any great Club has always had running through it a rich vein of long and loyal service from a series of outstanding individuals. Our Club is no different in this respect, and our history includes the names of many 'volunteers' who have served the Club long and well. Names which come to mind include such as Morland Simpson, our first President; Theodore Watt, Magazine Editor for thirty-nine years and Secretary & Treasurer for twenty-seven of those years; Scottie MacLachlan, Secretary & Treasurer for nearly twenty years; Campbell Connon, Alan Watt and many more. This year, two other outstanding individuals have reached major milestones in their involvement with the Club - Brian Crookshanks and Jock Hendry. We are fortunate, indeed, to have such stalwarts in our midst and even more fortunate that they both have more to contribute. We all owe both of them our heartfelt thanks. Martin Jeffrey The March of Time 25 Years on On 29 March 1976 John F. Hendry (1951-65), who had served on the Executive Committee since 1969 and also on the Club Centre Management Committee for several years, was appointed Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club. At this year's Annual General Meeting it was noted that he had completed a quarter century in post. To the rest of us (although, no doubt, not to him) it seems only yesterday that he took up the reigns, but in reality much has happened in these twenty-five years. It is a sobering thought that Jock has guided no fewer than thirteen Chairmen through the minefield that their job can sometimes be, always ready with advice when required, seldom stuck for a solution to a problem, and invariably with an apt remark to defuse a difficult situation. It was commented at the time of his first election to the Executive in 1969, which coincided with the decision to acquire 86 Queen's Road as a Club Centre, that he was young, keen and able - this at a time when he was just four years out of School. The accuracy of that remark by his proposer has been amply demonstrated, and while obviously the first epithet no longer applies, his keenness and ability are still undoubted. By the time that he became Secretary, Jock had already been Treasurer of the Rugby Section, had been Entertainments Secretary, responsible for a series of FP Dinners and Balls, and had worked tirelessly in the interests of establishing the Club Centre. 51
AberdeenGrammar School Magazine
John I-: Hendry
Brian K. Crookshanks
Former Pupils' Club Section
When he took office, the technological era had not yet permeated the methodology of Club administration. The membership records were on a colour-coded card index system and the Magazine envelopes were addressed by means of an addressograph machine reliant on specially cut metal plates which had to be kept up-to-date. There was no fax, no e-mail - not a computer in sight - just plain old-fashioned methods of communication. In the space of quarter of a century the administration of the Club, with its world-wide membership, has been transformed. It is often over-looked that the Club Secretary is not just the person who links the Centres of the Club with 'head office' and the Executive, but he is the constant link between the Club and the School which we all seek to support. He acts as Secretary to the Amenities Fund Committee and to the All-Round Trophy interviewing panel, and he is closely involved in the Club's annual visit to the School to promote the Club and Club Centre to School-leavers. He is, in a very real sense, the public face of the Former Pupils' Club. Jock is wont from time to time to remark dismissively, "I'm only the Clerk", but he is a great deal more than that, and we are fortunate that we have for so long been served by someone of his calibre. Long may he be at the helm.
Club Centre Stalwart Long Serving Committee Member Calls It a Day In April 1968 the late Gordon Henderson, then Chairman of the Club Executive, suggested that the Club ought actively to pursue the possibility of obtaining Club premises in the vicinity of Rubislaw. Within a few weeks we had been made aware of the prospect of the house at 86 Queen's Road, owned by a member of the Club, being available for purchase. A sub-committee was set up shortly thereafter to examine the matter in depth and report to the Executive on the viability of establishing a Club Centre. As the then Secretary & Treasurer of the FP Club, Brian K. Crooksbanks (1934-46) was automatically a member of that sub-committee which, over the next twelve months, was the steering group charged with acquiring the property, planning the necessary alterations, framing a constitution, obtaining registration as a licensed club, and opening for business. It seemed to make sense then for Club and Club Centre to have the same administrator, so he was Secretary & Treasurer of the new enterprise until 1974 and Treasurer for a further year. More significantly, perhaps, he has been a member of the Management Committee ever since. Counting the original steering committee, that makes a total of 33 years. During that time he has twice served as Vice-chairman, and from 1990 to 1995 he was Chairman of the Committee. Over the years since his first election to the Executive in 1958, Brian has held a variety of offices in the Club, and he is, of course, currently the Editor of the Magazine. Earlier this year he decided that the implementation of a new management structure in the Club Centre was the appropriate juncture for him to do what he had been minded to do for some time past, and to stand down. He planned a simple statement to the Committee at its April meeting and a low-key departure. As luck would have it, the Chairman was laid low on the afternoon of the meeting, and Brian arrived to find that, as Vice-chairman, he had to conduct his own last meeting. It is too early to say how much of a shock to his system this change in his life-style will be, but he reports no withdrawal symptoms to date.
Centre Reports Club Centre The year 2000 saw a continuation of our recent experience of declining turnover and a general drop in income. The Accounts (which appear at the end of this Magazine) again ended with a trading loss, although at a very much reduced level compared with the previous year. As a result of negotiations with the Hydro Board, we received a repayment of a substantial sum which has the effect of putting us in surplus at the end of the year but, as explained above, that is an artificial situation in the special circumstances of the refund. 53
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
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54
Ceembee
Former Pupils' Club Section
In April last year, following the Annual Meeting, the Management Committee held an in-depth "brain-storming" session to look at all possible ways of increasing membership and usage of the Club, reducing overheads and generating essential additional revenue. Some of the ideas which emerged have been introduced, others are being worked upon. As envisaged by Martin Jeffrey in his article on the way ahead for the Centre in last year's Magazine, the Centre now has funds from the loan obtained by the FP Club and has been enabled to pay off its crippling bank overdraft. This has, hopefully, provided us with sufficient breathing space to turn things round at 86 Queen's Road. Towards the end of the year a small sub-committee produced a report proposing some far-reaching changes in the way in which we manage our business, and since earlier this year a radical restructuring has taken place. There has now been appointed a Management Team of six, each with key areas of responsibility, whose brief is to recruit members, publicise our facilities, maintain the fabric of the building and encourage new business with a view to the Centre being utilised to its maximum. The day-to-day running of the Centre is in the hands of this Team, and the main committee now meets only in alternate months. On the social side, two highly successful tribute events took place in the Centre. The first was last July, in honour of Dally Allardyce, and the second, at the end of January, was in honour of Donnie times. Attendance from friends and colleagues of both were present in substantial numbers, including several who had come quite a distance to join the fun. Ideas for similar events will be welcome. Canada The Canadian Centre held its Annual Dinner and brunch on September 30 and October 1, 2000 in Ottawa, Ontario. The dinner on Saturday, September 30 was held at the Green Valley Inn. Thirty Canadian FPs, spouses and guests travelled from various parts of Ontario and Quebec to attend the eighth Canadian Centre weekend, and we were delighted to welcome Martin Jeffrey and Ross Baird from the parent club. Having FPs from Aberdeen attend our annual dinner provides an important link with the Club. At the beginning of the evening Peter Jeffrey presented the FP Club badge of office and the Duguid decanter to this year's Canadian Centre President, Philip Barron. Phil then gave the Toast to the School and Club, and we enjoyed Phil's reminiscences of his school days. Martin Jeffrey, in his capacity as Vice-President of the Club and Chairman of the Executive, then replied to the Toast and gave an interesting up-date on the membership drive and recent events concerning the school and club. As in 1996, Peter Green and his wife Anne hosted a wonderful al fresco brunch the next day at their old (by Canadian standards) stone farmhouse, and once again we enjoyed a glorious golden fall day as we renewed friendships and enjoyed exchanging memories of our Aberdeen days. The following FPs attended the dinner: W.H. Guthrie (1939-51), Brighton, Ontario; J.M. Jeffrey (1942-57), Aberdeen; E. Williamson (1943-56), Waterloo, Ontario; E. Anderson (1944-57), Manotick, Ontario; J.P. Jeffrey (1944-59), Dunrobin, Ontario; J.T.F. Cook (1945-49), Marmora, Ontario; P.J. Green (1947-57), Kemptville, Ontario; P. Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; M.J. Hardie (1948-59), Almonte, Ontario; K.E. Pirie (1948-58), Aylmer, Quebec; W. Balfour (1949-58), Westmount, Quebec; M.G. King (1951-60), Sudbury, Ontario; J.R. Baird (1951-64), Aberdeen; A.F.J. Home (1952-58), Greely, Ontario; D. Thomson (1952-58), Sudbury, Ontario; 1. Thomson (1953-60), Nepean, Ontario; I.McG. Marr (1954-58), Kanata, Ontario. David R. Auld (1947-61) will take over as the 2001 Canadian Centre President, and the annual dinner will be held in Victoria, British Columbia on Saturday September 15, 2001. All FPs and their spouses, whether resident in Canada or visiting, are cordially invited to attend. For further details please contact Peter Jeffrey, 2635 Fifth Line Road, RR # 1, Dunrobin, Ontario KOA ITO. Tel/fax: (home) 613-832-9125, e-mail: pjeff65046@aol.com. 55
Canadian Centre Dinner - Ottawa, September 2000
AberdeenGrammar School M agazin e
(L-Ri Martin Jeffrey Ross Baird, Jim Cook, Mike Hardy, David Thomson, Alex Home, Elliot WilliamsonJan .11arr, lidhe Balfour, Peter Green, Peter Jeffrey Mike King, Phil Barron, Ed Anderson, Ian Thomson, Ken Pirie.
Former Pupils' Club Section Edinburgh The Annual Dinner of the Centre was held in the Clubhouse of The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society on Friday 16 February 2001. President Sandy Monro welcomed the company of forty members and guests, who included the principal guest George Allan, a former Headmaster of Robert Gordon's College , the President of the Parent Club, Dick Tyson, the Rector, Bill Johnston, Professor Karl Linklater, the President of the Edinburgh Gordonian Association, Basil Emslie and Ian Duguid representing respectively the Glasgow and London Centres, Head Girl, Gemma Reid and Head Boy, Niall Methven . The principal toast of "The School and the Club" was proposed by George Allan in a most accomplished manner and excellent replies were made by the Head Girl, the Head Boy and the Rector on behalf of the School and by Dick Tyson on behalf of the Parent Club. It was particularly pleasing to have George as our Principal Guest in that he was due to be in that role three years ago when he sustained horrific injuries in a domestic accident days before the dinner. He appears to have made a remarkable recovery and certainly relished the opportunity to confirm the very close association he has had with both the School and the Club over many years. During the course of the Dinner the Centre, as usual, held its Annual General Meeting. Sandy Monro and Nigel Watt were re-elected as President and honorary Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, and the new committee members are Mike Beanie, Keith Masson, Marie Moser and James Rust. For the first time in over twenty years the Golf Outing had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. After consultation with the Glasgow Centre it has been decided to have a joint Outing at Tulliallan on Thursday 16 August 2001. The cost will be substantially reduced from previous years and hopefully what has always been a most convivial occasion will take place! An informal Wine Tasting is to be held in the Office of the Secretary (5 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh) on Thursday 4 October 2001. Hopefully this is an opportunity to encourage some of our younger FPs to participate in the activities of the Centre. Next year's Dinner will again be held at The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society on Friday 26 April 2002 - a change of date in the hope of attracting more members. There were more than thirty apologies this year and as an experiment the Committee has decided to move away from the eve of a rugby international. Over the last few years less and less FPs have travelled from Furth of Edinburgh for the Dinner. Any reader who has recently come to the Edinburgh area and who has not received any communication from the Centre is invited to contact Nigel Watt at his business address of 5 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7.1A - telephone 0131 200 1020, Fax 0131 200 1090 or e-mail ngmw@globalnet.co.uk The following FPs attended the Dinner: R.G.C. Smith (1926-37), Dr A.L. Speirs (192638), R.A.Williamson (1928-36), B.D.D. Emslie (1928-35), W.M. Brown (1933-46), A.J.K. Morro (1933-46), Dr A.I. Cheyne (1936-48), W. Pratt (1936-44), T.G. Coutts (1938-51), I.M. Duguid (1938-43), D.G. Kilgour (1938-50), J.M. Jeffrey (1942-57), D.A. Brittain (1943-49), A.E. Philip (1943-56), R F Tyson (1944-49), R.S.Rilley (1947-55), S.A.Howard (1948-58), D.J. Fettes (1953-59), K.1. Masson (1959-72), D Skene (1959-64), I Fraser (1962-68), J.H. Rust (1963-71), N.G.M. Watt (1963-69), Dr. S.W. Cummings (1965-69) and R.H.A. Malloch (1970-76). Glasgow This annual report usually starts with mention of our Golf Match against the Edinburgh Centre - sadly, this competition did not take place in 2000 and thus Glasgow retained the Trophy. A match against Edinburgh has been arranged for Thursday 16 August 2001 at Tulliallan GolfClub - our golfers are back in business. Any members wishing to play should telephone Basil Emslie at 0141 956 4299. The Centre's Annual Dinner was held on Friday 16 March 2001 at the Swallow Hotel, Bellahouston, Glasgow whose high standard was remarked upon by members and guests alike. David Allan. the Centre President, conducted the proceedings, for his first time, with aplomb and humour. The principal speaker was Ed Campbell, an Aberdonian retired Prison 57
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Governor who had served at Craiginches, Peterhead and Barlinnie, currently the chief security officer with West of Scotland Water. He was a racy raconteur who very successfully entertained and amused us with his witty and racey toast to the School and the Club, leaving us with some nostalgic memories. The Secretary, your scribe, was warned that the attendance might fall as some time-served FPs may not have wished to meet the ex-Governor, but, on the contrary, the attendance was even better than usual with a total of 60 present, including guests. The Centre very much appreciated four FPs and their ladies travelling from Aberdeen to be with us. A most attractive change this year was the presence of Helen Innes, Depute Rector, who replied on behalf of the School along with Gemma Reid, Head Girl and Niall Methven, Head Boy. Dick Tyson, who has been a regular visitor to our Dinner from the Yorkshire Centre, graced our table for his last social duty as President of the Parent Club. He told us how much he had enjoyed this wonderful experience along with the cameraderie and friendship. Gary Allan concluded the very successful evening with a collective vote of thanks. As it should be at such gatherings, there was still time to enjoy old and new friendships - perhaps some stayed up longer than others. During the evening a brief A.G.M. was held when David Allan, Basil Emslie and Peter Cairns were re-elected as President, Secretary and Treasurer. Ian Fergusson resigned from the Committee due to pressure of work and was warmly thanked for his long service. David Reid for the same reason asked to be relieved fora year. Elected as Committee for 2001-02 were Gary Allan, Lesley Galloway, Malcolm Daniel, Marjory Coutts, John Hannah and Stefan Colling. The following FPs attended the Annual Dinner. Basil Emslie (1929-35), Sandy Monro (1933-46), Mor Brown (1933-46), Martin Jeffrey (1942-57), Dick Tyson (1944-49), David Allan (1945-58), (1945-58), Malcolm Gauld (1947-61), Ian McLeod (1951-55), John Hannah (1959-71), Doug Skene (1959-64), Norman Garden (1960-66), Jim Leask (1960-66), Gary Allan (1963-76), Nigel Watt (1963-69), Calum MacDonald (1973-79), Stuart MacDonald (1973-79), Murray Pittock (1973-78), David Reid (1975-80), Marjory Coutts (1975-81), Malcolm Daniel (1975-81), Stefan Cooling (1990-96) and Kevin Crombie (1990-96). A joint committee of the Glasgow Branch of Aberdeen High School FPs, the West of Scotland Gordonians and ourselves is to meet to ensure that our joint functions are resurrected. Any FPs residing in the West of Scotland who wish to be advised about Dinners, Golf Outings, Joint functions and other occasions which the Glasgow Centre may arrange should contact the Secretary, Basil Emslie, 8 Westerton of Mugdock, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8LQ Tel. 0141 956 4299 so that their names may be added to the mailing list. Advance notice is given that the 2002 Annual Dinner will be held at the Swallow Hotel, Glasgow at 7.00 for 7.30 p.m. on Friday 22 March, the night before the French International at Murrayfield. London Throughout 2000, the London Centre devoted much thought to the question of how we should adapt to cater for the modern era and attract new members, especially those from the younger generation who attended the School from 1973 onwards. In this connection there ensued many exchanges, both written and by telephone, with Parent Club President Dick Tyson who had taken the matter very much to heart. Although Dick's views and those of the London Centre may not always have been in accord, there is no doubt that the Club has awakened to the need to look actively to the future. The London Centre database has been extensively revised and updated. On a more basic level, thanks to valuable membership information provided by the heroic efforts of Martin and Whilma Jeffrey, our mailing list has now soared to 222. Not all these FPs are local; some reside as far afield as Devon, Derbyshire and Cheshire, but experience has shown that a number are willing to make the journey to our functions. A suggestion by the London Centre to the London Gordonians to pool our resources and hold a joint event was turned down - for the present. There is already a precedent for joint events in the London Scottish Schools Annual Supper. We did, however, move forward with a new approach to our functions. The AGM, usually held in late spring, was combined with a cocktail reception and took place in the Caledonian Club on 1st November. The event 58
Former Pupils' Club Section proved to be immensely successful with probably the highest turnout for an AGM for some twenty years! With the exception of Dr. Harold Watt, who had intimated his intention to step down, our Executive Committee was re-elected, with Grahame Young continuing as President. It is appropriate to record our special thanks to Harold for the years of service and wise counsel which he has given to the London Centre since he took up residence in Cambridge and joined our number. A further decision made was that there would not be an Annual Dinner in 2000. The traditional time of early November is particularly crowded with similar functions and we felt that a date in the spring might prove more agreeable. And so it was that a highly successful Annual Dinner was held in the Caledonian Club on Friday 18 May 2001. Our guest speaker, Lt-Col. John Cormack, MBE, MC was brought up in Aberdeenshire and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1948. He was awarded the MC in Korea and went on to serve in BAOR, Berlin, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. In 1995 he was appointed Director General of the Burma Star Association. Rather than give the usual after-dinner speech, the Colonel gave us a riveting account of his hitherto unpublicised experiences as part of a British monitoring team behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany during the late 1950s and early 1960s. These experiences will be made generally public later this year in a television documentary. We were then entertained by the new Parent Club President, Steve Robertson, in his own inimitable fashion, and attending the first official function of his year of office. The third of our principal guests was Helen Innes, the Depute Rector, on her second visit to a London Centre Dinner, who presented a very informative, yet succinct and witty, account of the past School year and pointed to the favourable prospects for the future. The following FPs attended the Dinner: Dr J.L.S. Thomson (1920-27), M. Aggett (1930-42), I.B. Taylor (1933-40), G.S.Williams (1933-46), I.M.Duguid (1938-43), S.A.C. Robertson (1939-51), A.G.B.Young (1940-47), W. Jack (1945-51), R.Reid (1947-52), J.S.Tosh (1947-48), Dr C. McIntosh (1952-58), R.Caie (1954-65), J.Reid (1954-65), J.B. Smith (1954-67), K.A. Symon (1954-65), G. Wilson (1954-67), J.H. Duguid (1962-67), and S. Nicol (1962-71). On a rather sad note, September 2000 saw the passing of one of the London Centre's most outstanding members and former Presidents, Andrew Noble. Despite a very full business life, Andrew still found time to support the London Centre, and for many years he led our team in the Annual Scottish Schools' Golf Competition. Grahame Young and Sandy Nicol represented the Centre at a moving service in Trinity Church, close to Andrew's home in Wimbledon, on 23rd September. Yorkshire The Annual Dinner of the Yorkshire Centre was held on Friday 29 September 2000 at our usual venue, the Dower House in Knaresborough. For those of you who have not visited this part of England, the Dower House is a former Georgian house near the river in Knaresborough close to the magnificent rail bridge between Harrogate and York. We have held the Dinner here on over twenty occasions, and the informal atmosphere and professional care and attention make the Dinner an item for every FP's diary. This year, the Assistant Rector, Russell Gray, represented the School and was supported by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Presidents and a notable Gordonian, Rev Michael Gibson who, with his wife Margaret, has moved into our area. The unusual aspect of our dinner this time was that our local President was also there in his capacity as President of the parent FP Club. Dick made it clear that he wants to see the numbers of FPs attending dinners and supporting the Club to be increased and we are seeking to do this in Yorkshire by writing to all FPs on our mailing list. The attendance for the 2000 Dinner was disappointing and we do hope that FPs reading this will be able to support us in 2001. The date is Friday 28 September 2001 at the Dower House as usual. 59
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
COME CURLING .... "Ours is a game for duke and lord, Lairds, tenants, hands an' a' that; Our ministers too, wha preach the Word, Whiles ply the broom for a' that. For a' that and a' that, The chiefs wha soop (sweep) and cast their stares Are greatest yet for a' that. . . ."
Those who enjoy curling know that these words describe its attributes of individual and team skills; and its friendly and sociable competitiveness. To share their enjoyment of the game, the AGSFP Curling Section will welcome new members, of both sexes, be they complete beginners, or of any subsequent standard. The `laid back' approach of the Curling Section encourages new and improving curlers and, for those interested, there are excellent opportunities for further development by way of tuition and coaching at the Ice Rink Club, Dyce. If you saw, and were inspired by seeing on TV, the Scottish Men's Team win the World Championships in Canada earlier this year, why not have a go at curling when the season starts again in September. For further information, contact the Secretary of the AGSFP Curling Club, Mr Bruce Allan, 55 Carden Place, Aberdeen, AB 10 1UN (Telephone: 01224-642557).
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Former Pupils' Club Section
Section Reports Cricket The Strathmore Union XI again had a very disappointing season in 2000. Team raising difficulties led to a number of games being scratched during the season, and only one match was won. Due to work commitments which led to him going abroad, John Lord resigned the captaincy and this, together with the shortage of players of the necessary calibre, led to the team again finishing bottom of the Strathmore Union. The Committee felt that it was essential to take steps to ensure that Strathmore Union cricket remains available to the members of the Section and, following a general meeting, it was decided to approach Gordonians about some form of amalgamation. After much harmonious discussion it was agreed that the two clubs should field a joint team in the Strathmore Union for Season 2001 onwards. This was duly approved by both clubs and accepted by the Strathmore Union, and at the first joint meeting of the two clubs the formal agreement was signed. Peter Redhead was appointed the first captain of the new team, Grammar Gordonians, and he, along with a committee of five further members, was appointed to run the joint team for Season 2001. While early results were quite promising, the joint team has been adversely affected by injuries and unavailability of players, and lies in the middle of the table. Hopefully results will improve, but if the ultimate aim of achieving national league status is to be achieved, considerable recruitment of players of the necessary ability is going to be required. The coming into being of the joint team does not in any way affect our second or third elevens, as they will continue to play as Grammar FPs in the Aberdeenshire Grades. The 2nd XI, under the captaincy of Rob Fryer, had a reasonably successful season in 2000. We finished in the middle of the league, winning half of our matches. The main contributors with the bat were Rob Fryer, Harvey Morrison and John Youles, while the main wicket takers were Stephen Murphy and John Youles. Rob Fryer has continued as captain for Season 2001 and the 2nd XI have made a promising start to the season, lying in the top half of the table. The 3rd XI, under the captaincy of Jim Bramald, had a difficult season in 2000. Teamraising difficulties of both ourselves and the opposition led to only about half the games being played and the team eventually finished bottom of the league. Jim Bramald has continued as captain in 2001 and, with a number of schoolboys being recruited, the 3rd XI has regularly fulfilled its fixtures, although to date, the results have been poor. However, the future of the Section depends on recruiting young players and hopefully results will improve as the season progresses. One of the effects of the Joint Team is that we no longer have a first team captain and it was decided to appoint Harvey Morrison as the first Club captain. He, along with the Management Committee and the team captains, has been trying to improve the general management of the Section. With the possibility of the redevelopment of Rubislaw, it is important that we are properly organised to take advantage of the improved facilities when they become available. Curling The Section began the season, as last year, with the bare minimum number to support four rinks. However, early in the season ill-health struck in the shape of three H's - a hip, a hernia and a hysterectomy. Fortunately, we are now a mixed club, but this set-back reduced the Section to three rinks and required a re-arrangement of the programme. Within the club, Norman Paterson's rink won the Autumn League, the Knockout and the Pairs, while Geddy Hay's rink won the Spring League. In external competition, Barton Brown's rink won section D of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Province League and also the game in the Inter-Province Grant Trophy at Forfar Ice Rink. Our teams had an off-day for the Gordonian match, but enjoyed the normal camaraderie of the occasion. The annual dinner was, again, an evening to remember. 61
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
F.P. Club Football Section - Season 2000-1
Back (L-R) Raymond Duncan, Kenny Macpherson, Craig Porter, Tom Hyslop, Marco Bonato, Allan Duff Paul Smith, Rupert Seager, Steve Slessor, Ian Corsie (Manager). Front (L-R) Derek Allan, Robbie Davidson, John Ryrie, RichardNicholson, Steve Fraser (Captain), Craig Stuart, Alan Western, Dave Sinclair
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Former Pupils' Club Section Looking forward to next season, a link-up with Rubislaw Curling Club has been arranged. The separate identities of the two clubs will be retained, but an enlarged league with a wider number of players will be played. New members would be made welcome, and anyone interested should contact the Secretary, Bruce Allan, tel. 642557. Football Season 2000/2001 saw the team competing in Division 3 of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association leagues following the success of winning Division 4 in the previous season. Matches are played on Saturdays, although midweek games on both Mondays and Wednesdays are played at the beginning and end of the season. The team had to play six games between August 12 and 26, and started well with four wins, a draw and a defeat. Unfortunately, the next three games were lost by a I -goal margin. Following a much needed draw against Portlethen the team suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the eventual league winners. Walker Road, on September 23. Their team contained some very talented, hard-working players, including a forward previously a youth signing with Hearts who scored nearly 60 goals in the season! This result saw the team placed in the bottom half of the table. Due to a large volume of cup games and bad weather the team played only two more league games during 2000, registering a win and a draw against RGU and Bankhead. A further 4 points were picked up by the team following the next two games, which were both against Cults. These were the only league games played during January and February, but the points gained saw the team rise to mid-table in a league comprising 18 teams. The team then lost an exciting game 5-3 against University before starting the midweek games. Between Saturday April 7 and Monday May 7 the team played thirteen games, beginning with a hard fought 1-0 win at Kintore. A further five wins, five draws and one defeat were to follow, which meant that the team moved up to the top five positions in the table. Because of league reconstruction by the FA the top nine teams were to be promoted to a new Division 1. The Association has created a Premier Division for season 2001/2002, and this was the teams' ultimate target. During this period of fixtures the team lost a number of players for the rest of the season due to injury. The next four games were played within a 9-day period, and due to a mixture of tiredness and injuries they were all lost. This meant that a win was required against Dyce Rovers in the last game at Rubislaw on June 4. Dyce were positioned second in the league prior to the game. The game was going well with the team leading 2-0 half way through the second half, following two goals by Seager. However, the legs became heavy and Dyce scored two goals in the last fifteen minutes. The equalising goal occurred in the last minute of the game. As a result the team will compete in Division 2 next year (although watch this space). Thanks must go to our long-serving manager, Ian Corsie, who has retired and has decided to go shopping on Saturday afternoons. I understand Marion Corsie has purchased a season ticket for Pinodrie, so lan has probably chosen the correct option! Many thanks also to committee member and match organiser, Gregg Mann, who is stepping down following a lot of hard work. In addition, thanks are due to all involved in organising the casino night - especially Gregg Mann, who organised the event and Tom Hyslop, his able assistant. Lastly, but not least of course, Dave Sinclair finished as top scorer with ninteen goals following a good season. The committee's player of the year and the players' player of the year will be announced later. The 2000/2001 squad comprised: Derek Allan, Marco Bonato, Paul Davidson, Robbie Davidson, Glen Davidson, Allan Duff, Raymond Duncan, Steve Fraser (captain), Tom Hyslop, Kenny Macpherson, Gregg Mann, Brian Middleton, Richard Nicholson, Craig Porter. John Ryrie, Rupert Seager, Dave Sinclair, George Skinner, Steve Slessor, Gordon Smith, Kenny Smith, Paul Smith, Craig Stuart, Euan Wallace, Alan Weston, Andrew Wilson. A total of 27 players turned out for Grammar FPs during the season and over half of these players are Former Pupils. Congratulations to Paul Smith and Tom Hyslop who became fathers during the season and close season (the Rubislaw creche is rapidly becoming the largest in the North East). Anybody interested in playing football, or coming to training, should contact Craig Stuart on 804700. 63
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Golf Norman Garden's reign as Captain finally ended when he organised the Section Dinner, held this year at the Club Centre. A not inconsiderable quantity of wine was consumed by those present and a specially selected 14% South African, punningly named "Goats Do Roam", contributed to some collective blank moments. The prescient John Paterson has installed a Thora Hird stair rail in preparation for next year's Dinner. Two Outings were held at Braemar, one at Ballater and there was a mid-week Outing at East Aberdeenshire. Former Captain Ian Creswell deserves credit for designing the latter Course. The weekend Outing to Taymouth Castle was won this year by Arthur McCulloch. Ian McLeod and Dave Dent made their Kenmore debuts and provided postprandials for the entire company. A worthy precedent has, therefore, been established. Not much success was achieved at Bamton in the Queen Elizabeth Coronation School Tournament, when we lost to Hillhead in the second round, having had a bye in the first round. Doug Watson is this year's Captain. Membership of the Section remains healthy, and funds are adequate although sponsorship would help. Any offers? Hockey With a break from tradition the Hockey Section would like to start this report by recording its thanks to a number of people for their hard work in support of the Section during the past season. We are grateful to the School, and in particular to David Swanson, for providing the future talent for our Section; we have to thank Ben Johnson for his continued dedication to the Section and its youth policy; and we have to thank the Club Centre secretary, Brian Deighton, and the staff there for looking after our post-match socialising. Season 2000/2001 saw the 1st Xl. captained by Peter Williams, finish in sixth place in National League 3, two points behind third-placed team and nine points behind the second-placed. The team reached the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup, where we were comprehensively beaten by the team which eventually finished third in National League 1. The 2nd XI, captained by Kevin Watt, finished fifth in Regional League North and reached the quarter-finals of the District Cup. The second team continues to nurture players for the 1st XI, and this season has played several very promising schoolboys in order to introduce them to higher levels of hockey. The 3rd XI, captained by Stephen Mair, finished in District League 1 and reached the quarter-finals of the Reserve Cup. The 4th XI, captained by John Chalmers, finished eighth in District League 2 and reached the semi-finals of the Reserve Cup. The Grammarians XI, captained by !rules Walker, finished the season in third place in District League 1. The team was knocked out of the Reserve Cup in the first round by the eventual winners - who, unfortunately, were Gordonians C! The Colts and Badgers contain a mixture of youth and experience, playing in District League 2. Colts fmished near the top and Badgers finished near the bottom of the League. Both teams are an ideal way of introducing schoolboys to FP hockey and also improving their skills to the benefit of the School team. The Indoor VI won the North District indoor league (albeit in controversial circumstances). The Graham Fraser Trophy for the most improved player was awarded to Graham Stewart, and the Williams Trophy for the first team's player's player of the year was once again won by a Williams. This time around it was the captain's elder brother, James Williams, who was the only squad member to play in every game and probably playing in every position except goalkeeper. The Men's Hockey Section is currently involved with the other sports sections in pursuing options to upgrade the facilities at Rubislaw to incorporate an all-weather surface, improved spectator facilities for rugby and improved changing facilities. 64
Former Pupils' Club Section
Petanque Despite a dreadful "summer", most of our competitions were completed, apart from the Club Open Triples. The accompanying Barbecues were well attended despite frequent dashes for shelter. Our annual Dinner was held in the Club Centre where Betty Longmead, our caterer, served up Bouillabaisse, Roast Beef, Baked Alaska and Cheese Board, all washed down with copious quantities of Vin Rouge. Last season's Club Competition results were as follows: Ron Comber Summer Solstice Singles Ron Comber Club Open Championship - Singles Club Open Championships - Doubles Ayron & Ron Comber The Club has a healthy bank balance and with small cosmetic repairs envisaged this will remain so. Come and join us. Rugby This past year has been a successful and satisfying season for the Club with the First XV gaining promotion to National Premier Division 1 and the Second XV winning their Championship and gaining promotion to the Scottish Inter-City Division 2. Last summer a number of new players were recruited to strengthen our playing squads, and during the season we used in excess of 70 players throughout the two senior teams (including players from Aberdeen University under our Association). Significantly, we had no overseas players; all the hard work was done with home-grown players! New players included Jason Watt, Steve Newton, Colin McCaul and Dan Teague, who all represented the 1st XV this season. In addition, we have recruited a large number of young development players who have performed well in the 2nd XV. 1st XV Squad Performance Having finished third last season and just missing promotion, this year we achieved our target to gain promotion to Premier 1, finishing in second place behind Stirling County. Interestingly, we won fewer games this season in gaining promotion than we did last season in finishing third, but the bonus points gained (13 in total) have been very important in helping to secure that promotion. In our first season in Premier 2 we won only 2 bonus points for scoring 4 tries or more, whereas this season we collected 9 bonus points for 4-try victories - a distinct improvement due to a change in playing philosophy. Whilst winning the Championship was our dream, it was not to be. Looking back, West of Scotland were our 'bogey side' against whom we only won 2 points out of a possible 10! Perhaps, had the matches against Edinburgh Accies and East Kilbride been played on the originally scheduled dates, the outcome of the Championship might have been different. Having said all that, we look forward to this coming season with an opportunity to test ourselves against the best in Scotland. Our League record was as follows: Played 18 Won 11 Drawn 1 Lost 6 For 502 Against 328 Bonus points 13 Total points 59 Our record in all games played : Played 25 Won 16 Drawn I Lost 8 Total points scored 799 We used 34 players in League games and 40 in all games. Top try scorers in the League were Andy Crichton with 10 and Colin Maguire with 8. Top points scorer in the league was Keith Oddie with 163 (but only one try!). In the Cup we had an excellent nm to the Quarterfinals, where we were narrowly beaten 22 - 20 by Boroughmuir who progressed to the final and won the trophy by defeating Melrose. Congratulations go to Andrew Wilson for his selection for Scotland Under 2I's and Scotland 7's - he has the ability to go all the way and we wish him well for the future. Other honours were gained by our players in the Scottish Students World Cup, namely Graeme Hoyle, Ben Prescott and Alistair Ness. 65
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
2nd XV Performance Another very good season was recorded, with the side winning Division 3 of the Inter-City 2nd XV leagues, achieving promotion for the fourth year in succession. League Record Played 12 Won II Drawn 0 Lost 1 Points for 427 Points against 163 All Games Played 16 Won 14 Drawn 0 Lost 2 Points for 653 Points against 221 The Second XV used in excess of 50 players throughout the year. Their league campaign was seriously interrupted by some teams not fulfilling their fixtures, and inclement weather causing postponements. Credit must be given to the lads for keeping up their training throughout the season despite these interruptions. Next season they will play in a larger league of 10 which should guarantee 18 league games throughout the season.
3rd XV Squad Again, the team had regular fixtures in the Aberdeen District League - they played once in 2000 and once in 2001! Due to the lack of games, players were unfortunately lost to the Club. Next season the team will play in the North District League which should give them a regular competitive game (probably around 18 fixtures during the season). Sevens Due to the long season, Sevens have not featured this season, our only appearance being at Moray in April when we were beaten finalists.
Coaching Our sincere thanks go to John Fleming and Colin Robertson for all their work and commitment throughout season. They have further developed the Club players throughout all the grades. Sadly, John Fleming will not be with us this coming season and will he replaced as Head Coach by the highly-rated Damien Reidy. Damien, from Brisbane, Australia, will be with us in July after he completes his contract as Coach to the Australian Barbarians. Further credit is due to Phil Clegg for his summer training regime, which proved invaluable in our push for promotion. Last season we lost 4 of our first 5 league games this season we won 4 of our first 5 games!! Additionally, many thanks to Al Dalton for his work with the 2nd XV squad.
Youth Section This has once again been a very successful year for the Youth section. We have had over 130 children playing rugby on a weekly basis throughout the season. The Mini section has had a very busy year with teams at all age groups from P4 to P7 either training or playing on Sunday mornings. Continuing to a thrive is our `Midget' section where children aged 5 to 7 are introduced to rugby and play every Sunday morning; there is a strong emphasis on parental involvement. The Midi Section has also had a very successful season with our SI team not only winning the Rannoch School Tournament against top opposition but also progressing to the Semi- Finals of the National S I competition. Our S2 and Under-16 teams had mixed fortunes this year but played strong competitive rugby with definite improvements being in evidence as the season progressed. Our Under-18 team came second in the local league and went on to play in the District League, finishing their season with a successful tour to Newcastle. We have had a good representation in both the District Teams at Under-16 and Under18 Japan, Wales and England level. Six of our Under-18s have been selected for a Caledonia Under-17 development squad and one player, Stewart Corsar, was selected for the Scotland Under-18 team, playing against Japan, Wales and England. 66
Former Pupils' Club Section The Season Ahead We can look forward to the coming season with confidence. All of our coaches and players are excited about the challenges that lie ahead, and we know that the benefit of our measured progress over the years will stand them in good stead in the coming campaigns at all levels in the Club. There will be many exciting matches on show at Rubislaw and the Club will use the next year as an opportunity to further strengthen the structure in both a playing and administrative sense. We anticipate a far greater input by the FPs to the enjoyment of rugby at the School and we are to play a key part in the School's curricular calendar, with the Head Coach dedicated to passing on his great experience to the next generation of FP players. Our aim is to establish Grammar FPs as a permanent component in the highest level of rugby in Scotland - next season is only one more step. By so doing, we wish to ensure that the School, Club Centre, FP Club and more generally, Rugby in Aberdeen, benefit from our achievements. With the support of all concerned we will realise those ambitions. Our Fixture List for the forthcoming season will be attractive to many FPs, as well as to a wider range of supporters, and is as follows: Saturday 1 September - Kirkcaldy (A) Saturday 8 September - Gala (H) Saturday 15 September - Hawick (A) Sunday 23 September - Stirling County (H) Saturday 29 September - Boroughmuir (A) Saturday 6 October - Melrose (H) Saturday 13 October - Glasgow Hawks (A) Saturday 20 October - Currie (H) Saturday 27 October - Heriot's FP (A) Sunday 11 November - Kirkcaldy (H) Saturday 15 December - Hawick (H) Saturday 1 December - Gala (A) Saturday 12 January - Stirling County (A) Saturday 19 January - Boroughmuir (H) Saturday 26 January - Melrose (A) Saturday 23 February - Glasgow Hawks (H) Saturday 9 March - Currie (A) Saturday 16 March - Heriot's FP (H) Cup Dates are as follows: Round 3 - Saturday 3 November Quarter-final - Saturday 9 February Round 4 - Saturday 17 November Semi-final - Saturday 30 March Round 5 - Saturday 8 December Final - Saturday 20 April Swimming The Section has continued to meet over the past year on Tuesday evenings at the School pool. Each session starts at 6.30pm and finishes at 9pm. The first hour remains open to children accompanied by adult members. It was noted at the last AGM of the Section that increasing pool charges put the future of the Section in doubt. It is therefore vital that all subscriptions are paidprompt4t Of course, new members would be most welcome - there must be some more FPs out there who enjoy swimming - or how about School staff? Officials appointed at the AGM are as follows: President: Peter Robertson Treasurer: Gordon Inkson Secretary: Angus Thompson Women's Hockey This season, like so many before, has gone in a flash. Needless to say, as ever, we have had a lot of fun, laughs and one or two 'beers' on the way! All in all we have had a fairly successful season and both teams have every reason to be proud of their achievements. The first eleven finished the season in a creditable third place in North District Division One. They recorded a victory over the eventual winners and, but for a couple of draws during the early part of the season, would have been right in there to challenge for the title again. On paper this may seem like a season where the team could have done better, but in fact there were many factors which affected the team this year. The squad changed drastically over the season, with some stalwarts of the Club moving on to pastures new and others having to attend to work commitments more frequently than in previous seasons. In summary, the First Eleven survived the season through the efforts of a great many more of our Club's playing staff than would normally be called into action in any 67
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
single season, and they are very much indebted to the backbone of the Second Eleven for all their assistance. The other very pleasing aspect of the season was some of the schoolgirls breaking into the 1st Xl. This bodes well for the future of the Club. The Second Eleven were playing in North District Division Two this season, which gave them an excellent chance to develop their playing skills in a competitive environment. They ended the season in a very creditable fourth position. The efforts of many of their regulars have meant this was deemed to be one of the most enjoyable and successful seasons for some time. We have had an influx of new recruits and the good results have meant that team morale is very much higher than it has been for a few seasons. This can only be good news for next year and we fully expect to see them pushing strongly for promotion in 2002. Aside from playing, this season has seen a number of the first eleven passing their theory papers for the Umpires test, and already one or two of the girls are working on their practical tests. This type of assistance is greatly needed across the District, and the Club is pleased to see more and more of the players taking their turn with the whistle. In competitions other than the main leagues the Club has had another good season. Firstly, the team won the Indoor Knockout Tournament. Again, this was a great day out and, having been a little lacklustre during the indoor season, the team ended on a very high note by playing some really good quality indoor hockey. Overall the indoor season is traditionally difficult to get into, as the league is very intense and only runs for about seven weeks over December and January. As a Club we are well known for coming good towards the end of the indoor season, once everyone has got used to the different style of play. In some ways it is disappointing that the Club has not done better in the indoor league itself, but it certainly notices the benefit when we get back to the outdoor game where the indoor skills noticeably sharpen the 1st XI's game. The other achievement this year was that the First Eleven reached the final of the Scottish District Cup for the first time in the Club's history. The Club organised a bus down to Peffermill, the home of hockey in Scotland, for a day which was enjoyed by players and supporters alike. The Club was delighted with the amount of travelling support this occasion generated and would like to take this opportunity to thank all friends and family for giving up their day to cheer on the team. Dominating the majority of the game (according to genuinely impartial spectators) was all very well, but the team could not score the all-important goal. With only seven minutes remaining, the opposition scored a scrappy goal and FP's hopes were dashed. The bus trip home was nonetheless jubilant and there's always next yearttli Socially we had another great season with plenty of top nights out in the Club Centre and various other establishments across Aberdeen. Highlights of the season were the annual wine tasting evening and a casino night. To all those who supported the Club at these events we are very grateful. Finally the Club would like to extend the most heartfelt thanks possible to Richard Wallis for his tireless umpiring, support and associated advice - as ever, words cannot suffice. New members are most welcome - please feel free to contact anyone from the following list for details: President - Morag Wisely - 484355 Secretary - Emma Hendry - 313386 First XI Captain - Nikki Fox - 323574 Second XI Captain - Fiona Poison - 645721
Annual Dinner If you were not there then you would not have believed the buzz, excitement and energy which were displayed at the 2000 FP Millennium Dinner. The bare facts are that the Dinner took place on Friday 27 October 2000 at the Queen's Hotel, Aberdeen and was presided over by the President, Dick Tyson. As the first (or last) Dinner of the Millennium, the format of the evening was significantly changed from normal, the proceedings being opened with a parade of the Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Club before the entrance of the President's party. We were honoured that thirteen of the Honorary Vice-Presidents, the Rector, the Head Girl and Head Boy of the School were present, along with representatives of the Gordonian and Watsonian Associations and the FP Clubs of Albyn, St. Margaret's and the High Schools, Hazlehead Academy and Stewarts/Melville College, and the Headmaster of Robert Gordon's College. 68
Former Pupils' Club Section After everyone was seated, the President welcomed the company and Grace was said by Gemma Reid, the Head Girl. The Hotel provided an excellent meal and service, which was then followed by a non-traditional toast list. The Loyal Toast was proposed by the Head Boy, Niall Methven. The principal toast, to 'The School and the Club', was proposed by Steve Robertson of Scotland the What fame, and now this year's President, who gave an excellent speech, full of humour and candour, on the joys of getting old, with specific reference to the distance in time from his school years. The President, in reflective mood, replied for both School and Club, and expressed his satisfaction and pleasure at being elected President of the Club, his concern at the health and vigour of the Club and his hopes that all the recent efforts of the Committee would bear fruit and ensure the sustainability of the Club. In lighter mood, the President proposed the toast to 'Our Guests', of whom there were many, to which a good-humoured reply was made by Douglas Johnston, President of the Gordonian Association. It was an outstanding evening, enjoyed by all 203 who attended. These are the bare facts! But the evening was much, much more. It was a true demonstration of the fellowship, friendship and commitment of members to the School and FP Club which perhaps has not been on such vigorous display for many years. The atmosphere of the whole event was electric, with many factors such as the Year Reunion tables, the Sports Section tables and the Club Centre table all contributing to the success of the event. There are many people to thank for making it such an outstanding evening, especially Dick Tyson, Steve Robertson, Doug Johnston, Ian MacLeod, Melville Watson, David Yule, Norman Edwards, Allan Macdearmid, Bill Brooker, Douglas Harper and Martin and Whilma Jeffrey, all of whom helped to make this event special and the biggest for many years. The following FPs attended the Dinner (in order of entering School): J.R.S. Innes (192335), J.C. Sellar (1924-34), D.J.C. Patterson (1926-38), J.A.N. Watt (1927-39), B.D.D. Emslie (1929-35), D.N. Georgeson (1929-40), A. Stuart (1932-45), A.J.K. Monro (193346), W.M. Brown (1934-46), B.K. Crookshanks (1934-46), P.G. limes (1935-49), W.D. Michie (1935-48), J.E. Fraser (1936-49), A.H. Hume (1936-46), A.1. Cheyne (1937-48), E.D. Watt (1937-50), W. Wood (1937-48), W.D. Brooker (1938-50), I.M. Duguid (1938-43) P.M. Gordon (1939-48), S.A.C. Robertson (1939-51), J.W. Cradock (1940-46), A.G.B. Young (1940-47), J.H. Duncan (1941-50), A. Macdearmid (1941-48), H.B. Paterson (194150), J.C.N.W. Burr (1942-56), P.L. Cromar (1942-48), J.M. Jeffrey (1942-57), A.J.M. Miller (1942-55), N.M. Munro (1942-56), I.M.S. Park (1942-55), A.H. Cairns (1943-56), H.A.S. Hamilton (1943-56), I.B. Kennaway (1943-57), H.J. Kinghom (1943-56), A.M. Mathieson (1943-57), A.K.G. Paterson (1943-56), A.E. Philip (1943-56), E.A. Smith (1943-57), M.F. Watson (1943-56), A.K. Campbell (1944-53), A. Cromar (1944-50), D.B. Galloway (194458), J. Gauld (1944-53), E. Grieve (1944-50), D.R. Harper (1944-58), D. Jack (1944-50), J.F. McLellan (1944-50), J. McMurtrie (1944-53), J.C.A. Michie (1944-58), R.F. Tyson (1944-49), G.J. Wilson (1944-48), D.L. Allan (1945-58), J.G. Bell (1945-56), W.M. Murray (1945-54), D.F. Ross (1945-58), W.J. Anderson (1946-48), B.P. Leaman (1946-56), R.R. Comber (1947-52), J.B. Davidson (1947-60), S.T. Forbes (1947-56), P.J. Green (1947-57), F.K.S. Lawson (1947-62), F.M. McPherson (1947-56), R.S. Rilley (1947-55), M.L. Wolkoff (1947-59), R.W. Grant (1948-61), S.A. Howard (1948-58), D.R. Kynoch (1948-56), W.L. Sleigh (1948-55), J.D. Aberdein (1949-55), G.J. Collier (1949-56), R.S McKay (1949-57), L.M. Nicol (1949-57), M.G. Walker (1949-57), G.F. Webster (1949-62), I.R. Bishop (195055), N.J. Home (1950-56), A.D. Milne (1950-58), G.G. Milne (1950-61), G.M. Phillips (1950-55), J.H. Rose (1950-56), S.J.C. Esson (1951-64), R. Gray (1951-65), J.F. Hendry (1951-65), I.H. McLeod (1951-55), H.E. Morrison (1951-65), D.K. Yule (1951-65), R.C. Shirreffs (1951-65), J.R. Baird (1952-64), N.M. Borthwick (1952-65), H.R. Millar (195265), M.L. Vicca (1952-56), J.I. Glashan (1953-56), W.R. Hutcheon (1953-58), D.J. Hopkin (1955-61), J.H. Gauld (1956-62), K.G. Jones (1957-66), F.I. Lloyd (1958-65), M.A. Batchelor (1959-65), A.G. Campbell (1959-65), J.H. Campbell (1959-63), B.M. Drummond (1959-65), N.K.B. Edwards (1959-64), S.G. Gray (1959-65), N. Macleod (1959-65), D.N. Yule (1960-66), N. Garden (1960-66), D.W. lnkson (1960-66), J. Main (1961-63), G.C. Archibald (1962-68), K.C. Carter (1962-68), I.S. Hopkin (1962-68), G.J.G. Allan (196376), G.I. Hardie (1965-70), P.M. Robertson (1967-73), D.G. Moir (1969-75), A.J. Thompson (1969-75), B.J. Bain (1972-78). N.J. Bain (1974-80), D. Harley (1974-80), B. Scott (1974-80), I.J. Taylor (1974-80), J.D. Wood (1974-79), G.K. Crookshanks (1979-85), 69
The Nursery Boys of 1951-65
ft ftft a aa 2 oa o
Back (L-R) Stei en Esson. David Yule, Gordon Hay, Harvey Morrison, Halsey Bradford, John Hendry. Front (L-R) Russell Gray, Murdoch Shirreffs, Richard Shirreffs. Roderick McDonald, Donald Lamont, Mike Covin.
Fortner Pupils' Club Section G.I.M. Walker (1979-85), D.M. Watson (1979-85), H.C. Wallis (1981-87), T. Watt (198389), B.A. Bain (1984-90), K.L. Hay (1984-90), F.J.G. Jeffers (1984-90), E.A. Hendry (1985-91), G,M, Inkson (1986-92), K. Stuart (1988-93), M. Wisely (1988-94), D. Brown (1989-95), S. Duthie (1989-95), A.P. Fettes (1989-95), R. Fox (1989-95), D. Guyan (198995), M. Guyan (1989-95), G.S. Kennedy (1989-95), S. Mair (1989-93), N. Smith (198995), T. Trayhum (1989-95), C. Veitch (1989-95), and S. Johnson (1990-96). In addition to the Rector and Mr Montgomery from the School, former Staff members A.L. McCombie, R. McLeod, and I.T. Stephen.were present. This year's FP Club Dinner will take place on Friday 26 October 2001 (when we can celebrate the real Millennium start?). Anyone who is thinking of having a Class Year Reunion please think about using the FP Dinner as THE event in which to participate. All those who used the dinner last year for this purpose would agree that it contributed to a great weekend and very successful reunions.
RE-UNIONS The 1951-65 Reunion, 2001 Fifty Years Together, and Never a Cross Word The 1990 Magazine noted the inevitability that the School year 1951-65 would have another (fourth) reunion after its Silver Jubilee back on 23 June 1990, suggesting that this might be in another five or ten years' time. In fact, owing chiefly to the dilatory habits of the soi disant organisers, it was eleven years to the day of the previous event, 23 June 2001, that the year sat down together to dine at the Caley Hotel. By the time that the weekend's celebrations had ended in the evening of Sunday 24 June, however, there was a unanimously held view that it had been worth the wait. The numbers attending were slightly lower than previously, but, as one has come to expect of 1951-65, the quality remained high! For example, at the dinner, the year was addressed by the Governor of the Falkland Islands and the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council, who initially vied with each other for acknowledgement of his own more onerous responsibilities. They ultimately agreed, however, that, though there was a significantly larger population in Aberdeenshire, there were more public toilets in the Falklands. Among their (occasionally) attentive audience, one could instantly recognise the misbehaviour characteristic of the Director of Army General Practice, a transatlantic Professor of history, a top mining engineering consultant from Australia, a top insurance executive from Hong Kong, a West End actor and a recent recipient of the CBE in the Birthday Honours List, not to mention two local authority directors whom, in the interests of good taste, no doubt the Editor will delete. More germane to the quality of this essentially former pupil occasion, the company also included the Secretary of the Club, the Treasurer of the Club Centre, a former captain of each of FP Rugby and Cricket, a former Editor and a former Notes Editor of the Magazine, and two current members of the Club Executive Committee. The evening was further enlivened by the rumbustious behaviour of eight former teachers of the year, Mr Bruce Finlayson, Mr Donald Hawksworth, Mr Arthur McCombie, Mr Ron McLeod, Mr Bill May, Mr James D. Morrison, Mr Graham Munro and Mr Ian Stephen, all of whom the Rector, Mr Bill Johnston, completely failed to keep under control. The weekend's programme followed the traditional pattern, starting on the Saturday morning with an educative, highly enjoyable and, for some of us, occasionally emotional tour of the School. Our tour guide was extremely professional, informative, and slick but sympathetic. Needless to state, he was one of our own number, Assistant Rector, Russell Gray. There was a quite exceptional survival rate from the Saturday evening dinner, enabling around fifty of us, including wives, family and other camp followers to enjoy an excellent buffet lunch at the Club Centre on the Sunday. Round about this point in the report of the 1990 reunion, the Magazine records, "Thus concluded another enjoyable, perhaps the most enjoyable, reunion". Not any more! There was a general, if not unanimous, view (especially of those with the stamina to last to the bitter end) that despite the unqualified successes of 1975. 1980 and 1990, the "real millennium" reunion beat them all. The abiding impression and memory of the reunion 71
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine weekend is of noise - noise of excited chatter, banter, good-natured insults and laughter. It was like a Primary 7 outing with drink. And yes, the Magazine can again record with conviction that there will be another 1951-65 reunion, and the person responsible for maintaining the In Memoriam list in the reunion year book expresses concern that, if it is left too long, he may not be compiling the list but appearing in it. At the dinner, a collection of over £500 was taken up and will be added to the School's 1965 Prize Fund, which the year endowed in 1990, and which is awarded annually to the pupil who, in the opinion of his or her fellow pupils, has made the greatest contribution to the life of the School. The choice of this type of prize was influenced (in the words of the Prize's original preamble) "by the recognition that the 1951-65 School year was a particularly sociable group (if not distinctive in any other special way)". We remain consistent. Unlike the year above us, we cannot boast a Cabinet Minister (actually, none of them boasts about it either), but we do do a good reunion. For the record, the organising team for the reunion consisted of Mike Colvin, Norman Edwards and Dave Yule, the dinner was chaired by Harry Millar (Senior Prefect 1964-65), and the toasts to the School and to the Year were proposed immensely entertainingly by Donald Lamont (Deputy Senior Prefect 1964-65) and Alan Campbell.
Former Pupils attending the reunion were: Roderick S. Anderson (1959-65), Martyn A. Batchelor (1959-65), Neil M. Borthwick (1952-65), R. Halsey G. Bradford (1951-65), Colin F. Caie (1959-65), Alan G. Campbell (1959-65), Alistair J. Clark (1959-65), Peter M. Collier (1960-65), Michael B. Colvin (1951-65), George Cowie (1952-65), Richard Cowling (195965), Bruce M. Drummond (1959-65), Norman K.B. Edwards (1959-64), Steven J.C. Esson (1951-64), Russell Gray (1951-65), Sydney G. Gray (1959-65), Gordon A. Hay (1951-65), John F. Hendry (1951-65), Roger D. Houghton (1959-63), Donald A. Lamont (1951-65), William Leiper (1958-65), George C. Letts (1952-62), Roderick A. McDonald (1951-64), Jack Main (1961-64), Brian Mair (1952-65), Douglas Marr (1959-65), Henry R. Millar (1952-65), Harvey E. Morrison (1951-65), Donald Murdoch (1952-66), Hamish T.E. Norbrook (1959-65), Richard B. Rae (1959-65), James D. Reid (1954-65), Malcolm F. Rennie (1952-65), Murdoch J. Shirreffs (1951-65), Richard C. Shirreffs (1951-65), Brian A.Smith (1959-64), David W.Smith (1954-65), Alan G. Stewart (1953-63), Lawrence M. Tough (1959-65), Derek J. Walker (1959-65) and David K. Yule (1951-65). The Class of '82 A reunion of members of the class which first entered the School in 1982 was held on 15 September 2000 when almost a third of the former pupils attended. The year in question saw the School's biggest intake to SI of 360 pupils, so a turn-out of around 100 of these was an excellent response. The choice of date was linked neither to the anniversary of entering nor of leaving the School - it was the year when most of the group reached age 30. Loma Simpson (now Douglas) and Debbie Somers (now Walker) were the initiators of the event, posting an article in the local press calling for the class of '82 to come forward to enjoy a night out. They were joined by Stuart Devine and by a poster campaign in shops and restaurants, and with the help of early respondents contacting others, the reunion took form. The Evening Express gave some excellent coverage and in return, on the night, the group raised over £200 through donated raffle prizes which they handed over to the newspaper's Children 2000 campaign. One person flew in from the United States, several travelled from all over Scotland and there were, of course, many living locally who together enjoyed a very successful evening. Conversation with old friends revealed that the former class-mates ranged from those having families the size of football teams to some still living the single life, and from one girl with a baby two weeks old to another expecting her baby in two weeks. A few former teachers joined the group and the overall impression was of a fantastic night. Everyone signed the register to make it easier to arrange another gathering - perhaps ten years on, when they all reach their forties??
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F.P. Club Membership Subscription Rates Life Membership: New Life Members: £100 plus a £15 "Top up" every 5 years, the first "Top up" being payable 5 years after Life Membership is taken out. Existing Life members: £15 "Top up" every 5 years
Annual Membership: Ordinary Members: £11 (or £10 if paid by Standing Order) Junior Members: £6 (or £5 if paid by Standing Order) - applies to Members under 23 years of age on 1 January) School Leavers: £5 (covering remainder of year of leaving plus I year) School Leavers (Extended): £20 (covering remainder of year of leaving plus 5 years)
Special Note for Members over 75: Life Members aged 75 and over do not have to make any "Top up" Payments. Ordinary Members aged 75 and over are not required to pay any Annual Subscriptions, but will become "Long Service" Members of the Club.
Payment of Subscriptions: Subscriptions should be sent to the Membership Secretary, Mrs Whilma Jeffrey, The Willows, Dalmuinzie Road, Bieldside, Aberdeen AB15 9EB. Mrs Jeffrey will also deal with queries, changes of address etc. Fax: 01224 - 862020 Email: martin.jeffrey@btintemet.com New Members - 1 January to 30 June 2001 Laura Armstrong 1994-00 Philip Maitland Louise Barron 1994-00 Niall Methven Philip Barron 1948-56 Donald Millar Julia-Desiree Bartsch 1996-01 Sophie Millington James Caie 1979-83 John G. Mitchell Sarah Chilton 1994-00 David Morrice Bob Coull 1994-00 Mhairi Neyedli Graham Deans 1994-00 Craig Perry Bob Donald 1958-66 Rafe Pilling Jen Dowds 1994-00 Gemma Reid Catriona Duncan 1994-00 Francesca Rennie Melanie Duncan 1995-01 Julie Riddell Nic Duncan 1986-91 Cameron Robertson Stephen Elliott 1995-01 Jennifer Shaw Becca Engwall 1994-00 Douglas Sinclair Alistair Flett 1994-00 Colin Smart James Florance 1995-01 Jonathan Strachan Gordon Forbes 1967-72 Rod Summers Samantha Fyfe 1994-00 Luke Summers Roger Gallie 1952-60 Ian Thomson Jennifer Gane 1995-01 Kenneth Thomson Ashley Henderson 1994-00 Ross Wattie Rebecca Hudson 1994-00 Judith Watts Fiona Lemon 1995-01 Christine Weddell Andrew McDonald 1994-00 Chris Whitcombe Colin McLean 1947-60 Peter Williams Ruth McLennan 1994-00 Rhiannan Williams Derek MacLeod 1994-00 Kenneth Wilson Main MacNeill 1994-00 Kun Yin Jonathan Mack 1967-73 Peter Zanre 73
1994-00 1995-01 1994-00 1998-01 1990-96 1994-00 1994-00 1994-00 1994-00 1995-01 1994-00 1994-00 1994-00 1995-01 1994-00 1994-00 1994-00 1963-68 1995-01 1952-60 1949-63 1994-00 1994-00 1995-01 1994-00 1990-96 1994-00 1994-00 1994-00 1997-01
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Honours and Awards Ness Year & Birthda), Honours
Order of the British Empire David Ivor Macpherson Sutherland (1951-55) MA, MEd, DLitt, FRSA was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in this year's New Year's Honours List for services to education. He studied Modern Languages at Aberdeen University before training as a teacher at the former Aberdeen College of Education. His first post was in the School, where he taught French and German from 1962 to 1966. His career in education took him thereafter to Belfast as a lecturer in Education before he returned to Scotland to lecture in Educational Psychology at the former Craigie College of Education in Ayr. In 1972 he entered the field of educational administration in the Highlands, where he served for some thirteen years, latterly as Depute Director of Education with Highland Regional Council based in Inverness. In 1985 he was appointed Registrar of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. a post which he held until his retiral early this year. In 1997 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by HeriotWatt University in recognition of his distinguished service to teaching and to the teaching profession. Douglas Marr (195965) MA, DipEd was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June for services to secondary education. After qualifying as a teacher his first appointment was at Hilton Academy in Aberdeen. He was Assistant Principal Teacher of History at the Grammar from 1971 and returned to Hilton as Principal Teacher of History in 1976. He was appointed Head Teacher ten years later. He then became the first Head Teacher of St Machar Academy, formed when Hilton amalgamated with the former Powis Academy in the latter's premises. He has been Rector of Banchory Academy since 1994. His expertise was utilised by the local authority recently when he was seconded to Fraserburgh Academy to assist during its year-long search liar a new rector. He was a member of the original Higher Still structure group. Polar Medal Ronald Ian Lewis-Smith (1946-60) BSc. PhD, DSc, FIBiol was awarded a Clasp to his Polar Medal (itself awarded in 1976) in the New Year's Honours List. He is only the second Scot to receive this medal twice, but it is interesting to recall that another FP of Antarctic fame, James William Slesser Marr (1913-19), known to all as "Scout Man', received the medal three times - and both had been members of the 1st AGS Scout Troop. Ronald reports that during the 1999-2000 Antarctic summer he spent four weeks aboard RRS James Clark Ross beset in solid pack ice off the Southem Antarctic Peninsula, but eventually succeeded in returning to his native Scotland to celebrate the Millennium and his parents' 60th wedding anniversary - his father being, of course, tan Lewis Smith (1918-30), one of the Club's Honorary Vice-Presidents. He then returned to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands to continue his biological research. While in the Falklands he visited Governor Donald Alexander Lamont (1951-65). the Club Consul in the Islands, having met former Club Consul, the late Robert Stewart Slessor (1927-29), there in 1964. 74
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Honorary Degrees At the Summer Graduation Ceremony held by Robert Gordon University in July 2000 the honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration was conferred on Charles Pirie Skene (1940-47) OBE. Chairman of the Skene Group of property companies, he has long held a vision for enterprise education which he set out in 1986 when he was a consultant to the Scottish Education Industry Committee. When his ideas fell on deaf ears he proceeded to establish the Skene Young Entrepreneurs Award, open to primary and secondary schools throughout Scotland. It is a matter of regret to him that few entries have come from public schools. His original interests were through the family photography business of Studio Morgan which he developed into one of the largest such businesses in Scotland. He has had an active involvement over many years in the Chamber of Commerce and CBI Scotland. He serves on a number of trusts and is actively involved in committees and task groups mainly directed to business development and his own passion for developing enterprise. He was Scotland's Entrepreneurial Supporter of the Year 2000. The award of the honorary degree recognises all the foregoing, but also recognises his long involvement with the Robert Gordon University, at which he has since 1997 been visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship, and his period as a governor of the former Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology. He is on record as recognising the University as a leader in enterprise education, because it has real-life entrepreneurs talking to its students. At a Graduation Ceremony held by Glasgow University on 1 July 2000 the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters was conferred on Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt (1931-43) MA, DPhil, FRHistS, FRSE, a distinguished ecclesiastical historian who taught in St Andrews Medieval History Department from 1953 to 1988 and from 1977 occupied a personal Chair of Scottish Church History. In presenting him, Professor Duncan said: "The foundation for studies of the influence of graduates upon the life and organisation of the medieval church in Scotland, and their role in the politics of the nation, is Donald Watt's Biographical Dictionary ofScottish Graduates to 1410, a volume which, by dint of fine paper, small type and double columns, brings together in 600 pages a conspectus of the literate class of medieval Scotland. It is a massive achievement, complete biographies, fully referenced, of some eleven hundred Scots or servants of Scotland, their careers central to understanding the history of this country in the Middle Ages. It is based upon sources, printed and unprinted, in Scotland, but also upon the author's time in archives and libraries in England, France and Italy. It overshadows all the prosopographical work of previous generations of historians, and yet it too was created without the miracle of the microchip, which today would make the task so much less laborious. I doubt you will find any work on the period written since 1977 which does not sing its praises with the word 'indispensable'. This work is but one of Donald Watt's essays into the personnel of the medieval church. We used to change the subject when confronted with other countries' lists of office-holders in cathedral and diocese, for there was nothing like that for Scotland until, single-handedly, he produced it for us in 1959, a work modestly sub-titled 'first draft'. His second draft, incorporating all the additions which the first had elicited, came out ten years later. The second is pretty safe on our shelves, beside his contribution on the early bishops of Scotland, one of the first published sections in an international work which is to cover all Western Christendom. "He came to these interests as an undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen, where his progress was interrupted by three years as a Pilot Officer, desk-bound, learning the devious ways of the Air Ministry when faced with parliamentary questions. From a first at Aberdeen he went to Oriel College, where his work for the doctorate so impressed his supervisors that they secured for him a lectureship at St Andrews University. Apart from a year at Columbia University, he has spent his academic life there, eventually with a personal chair. So he is an east-coaster, born into a family well-established in Aberdeen city society, then with a controlling interest in Aberdeen University Press, which his father faithfully ensured lived up to its name. One of his Victorian forebears fled the collapse of weaving at Alford at the age of twelve to seek work in the city and, as was then the custom, went to Sunday services. 75
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The established kirk ignored him because of his rough clothes; the Free Church ignored him for he clearly had no cheque-book; but the Congregationalists said 'Come awa' in laddie, fit can we dae tae help ye?' So the family and Donald were staunch adherents until St Andrews could offer only the establishment. But social concern lives on in his work as an elder of his kirk and he repaid the kindliness of those Congregationalists by chairing a local organisation working successfully to raise funds for a youth centre in the town; at the ceremonial opening the silent performance of the act by HRH fazed him not a whit. His short speech stayed in one pocket, the longer one was drawn from the other. "His reputation as a teacher of exceptional brilliance, both on the rostrum and in the seminar room, reached even the banks of the Kelvin. But he remained intensely loyal to his university which he served in a number of roles at the same time as playing an increasing part in the development of Scottish historical scholarship, particularly through the annual gathering of medievalists. It was to them that he announced his identification of a manuscript in Cambridge as the author's copy, with author's revisions, of the history of Scotland in its European setting, written about 1440 by Walter Bower, abbot of Inchcolm, and known as the Scotichronicon. This chronicle, which incorporates many native sources now lost, was not new to us, but there is a world of difference between hunting for information through a relentlessly Latin text with a perfunctory index in the only edition of 1759, and understanding it as a work of European literature and history, presented with text based on the best manuscripts with parallel English translation, and thoroughly annotated and indexed to reveal just how wide the abbot's scholarship was. The task of that new edition Donald Watt set himself in the mid- 1970s, and with his team of fellow-editors he completed nine volumes in a total of 5000 pages, if the tenth volume of his selections for use in schools be included. It was a remarkable achievement. The first published volume was his alone, and for each of the rest he worked on part, directed collaborators on part, and made the revision which conveys the identity of the enterprise. The loyalty of his team in working to time, as well as his raising of funds for publication are alike a tribute to his human skills. But his name is justly on the title page of them all, for to all he contributed substantially, and more than half the total effort was his. Quite simply, by singleness of purpose he has given back to us the most important narrative history and historian of our country in any century. "If he has not retired from scholarship - his study of the councils of the Scottish church is due to appear this year in both German and English, and he is the master editor of a muchneeded reference work on the heads of Scottish religious houses - he has already earned a unique niche on the gothic facade of Scottish historical scholarship, where he should stand holding the weighty stack of his published books, an unimpeachable treasury, pleasing to all who value scholarship." Adrian Peter Allan (1977-83) MBA is currently working as Business Processes Manager for the European drugmaker Aventis Pharma at its ProTox subsidiary unit near Frankfurt. In July 2000 he gained a Master's degree in Business Administration from Aston University, Birmingham as one of the first graduates from Aston Business School's international MBA partnership programme. Brian Allan (1977-83) is a group buyer for National Australia Group Strategic Sourcing within their property services team. He reports that he is striving to attain his professional status with the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Support, after which he plans to go on to undertake a Business Administration course. George Gordon Allan (1939-51) has had his third book on bowls published. Tournament Summer (Alpha Press, Brighton: £4.95) deals with the fifteen open tournaments which he visited during 2000, starting with Bath in June, ending with Broadstairs in September, and taking in the 'big ones' such as Boumemouth, Hastings and Great Yarmouth. It is not a blowby-blow account of the play but an attempt to convey by thumbnail sketch the setting, history and traditions of each event. The book is illustrated, and there is a short section on related matters, including a list numbering nearly fifty of the main English tournaments. Allan's other bowls books are Bowling Enchanted Woods and Bowls: A Gamefor Tivo Seasons. He has also published Not All Mud and Scrums, A Sporting Wanderer and Fleet Street Round the Clock. 76
Former Pupils' Club Section Alastair George Keith Bisset (1957-59) after over forty years as a reporter, thirty-four of these for the Press & Journal at Elgin, retired in October 1999 in order to devote more time to his new role as a Moray councillor. He started his career briefly with the Ayrshire Post, followed by a spell as district reporter for Aberdeen Journals in the Buchan area. In 1965 he returned to Elgin, where he had been brought up and where his father before him had been the P&J's man in Elgin. He had a reputation as one of the North's most respected journalists who acted at all times with unfailing professionalism. His own account of his greatest claim to fame dates from his short time in Ayrshire, when he was one of only two Scottish newspapermen to meet Elvis Presley when the rock and roll king touched down briefly at Prestwick on his way home from military service in Germany in 1960. Sadly, the only evidence of this meeting - a cigarette packet autographed by Elvis - was misplaced. Frederick George Bun (1949-55) has spent eight years researching and writing a book A World of Aberdeens, due to be published later this year, about the 34 Aberdeens which he has traced world-wide. He was curious to know how many they numbered and has found that they are scattered throughout America and Canada as well as in Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Hong Kong, South Africa and Australia. Almost all were formed and named after exiles from the North-east of Scotland. Mr Bull, a former landscape painter, and a director of Red Squirrel Films, a Deeside company, is now in course of a marathon trip to visit all the Aberdeens along with a companion who is filming their progress with the object of producing a video as a companion to the book. Hugh Sinclair Clark (1951-65) DSC, MNI retired from the Royal Navy in 1997 after a most interesting and fulfilling career as a seaman officer, Fleet Air Arm pilot and flying instructor. His last appointment was spent with the Foreign Office - three years as the British Naval and Air Attache at the British Embassy in Muscat, Oman, where he was able to pursue his love of the desert and the Arabian Peninsula. Having run away to sea from School in 1965 he ran away to sea again on retirement by going into the luxury yacht business. As a part-time sailor and yachtsman of long standing, he is now fully qualified as a commercial yacht Captain and has worked for three owners operating Superyachts, based mainly in the Mediterranean. He well remembers Rector John Skinner giving him a lecture on wasted opportunity because he decided not to take up an Aberdeen University place but instead to go as a direct entry to the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth (an opinion which was moderated a few years later when Mr Skinner became one of the panel of Headmasters on the Admiralty Interview Board and graciously pointed out that, for the young Clark, perhaps this had been a wise decision!) This academic omission has caused him to exercise the middle aged grey matter, and he is now most of the way through a degree in Earth Sciences at the Open University. Ian McMaster Clubb (1953-58) CA has for some years been chairman of the highly successful First Choice Holidays, which owns a chain of holiday and travel companies as well as Unijet, the charter flight business Air 2000 and Hayes & Jarvis, the long-haul flight specialists. Robin Finlayson Cook (1950-60) who has been Labour Member of Parliament for Livingston since 1983, and who was Foreign Secretary in the 1997 Labour administration, has been made Leader of the House of Commons in the Cabinet reshuffle which followed the General Election in June. Kenneth Coutts (1944-50), who has now retired from veterinary practice, was invited to present the trophies at the Scottish Schools Athletic Championships at Grangemouth last year. Among the trophies was the Eric Liddell Trophy, awarded to the schoolboy judged to have produced the best performance of the Championships. Having won this himself in 1950 for his performance in the mile, he found it quite nostalgic to hand it over fifty years later. He was interested to see that Robin McLeod (1945-54) won this trophy in 1954, but saddened to note that among the 225 schools taking part in 2000 there were no competitors from Aberdeen Grammar School. 77
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Kevin Francis Crumble (1990-96) graduated from Glasgow University last year with an honours law degree. He has now obtained his Diploma in Legal Practice at Glasgow Graduate School of Law and will start as a trainee with Messrs. McGrigor Donald & Co in September. Charles Ian Cruickshank (1945-57) BSc(Eng) having graduated with honours in civil engineering gained contracting experience with major companies in London, Reading and Edinburgh. After his marriage in 1966 he emigrated to Canada and spent three years with a consulting engineering firm in Vancouver and Calgary. He relocated to Australia in 1969 for two years and has been there ever since. He was for thirteen years with The John Connell Group for whom he started offices in Brisbane and Hong Kong, where he enjoyed many bowling evenings in the original Hong Kong Club with the Gordons/Grammar Association. In 1984 he set up his own engineering practice. Roderick Frazer Duthie (1970-74), who is principal teacher of technological studies at Linksfield Academy, Aberdeen, recently won one of twelve UK-wide teacher awards from the Institution of Electrical Engineers/National Electronics Council in recognition of his work encouraging pupils to develop an interest in technology and engineering. He was nominated for the award by the City Council Education Department on account of his high quality teaching and for his "outstanding professional and personal attributes." William James Farquhar (1938-42) AlB(Lon) joined the former Aberdeen Savings Bank on leaving School and served with it for 43 years until retiring in 1985. He was manager at the Strichen/New Pitsligo, Stornoway and finally Tony, Aberdeen branches of the Bank. He is a former secretary of Stornoway Rotary Club. His son Peter James Farquhar (1961-68) LL.B, who left School on his father's move to Strichen, took an honours law degree at Dundee University. Edgar Alexander Fox (1925-37) MB.ChB is now retired from general practice in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, where he has lived since 1951. George Leslie Fraser (1936-49) has found a pleasant and rewarding retirement task as Vice-chairman of the Campaign for Border Rail, a pressure group for the restoration of the old Waverley line from Edinburgh to Carlisle. To date, he reports, they have had a government-sponsored feasibility study, an all-party parliamentary debate supporting the cause, and recently £1.875 million to obtain the necessary Parliamentary powers. William Dickson Gall (1948-57) has been appointed secretary of the Rosemount and Mile End Community Council in Aberdeen. He has had a long involvement in politics, having been at one time a Liberal Party organiser in the Mearns, and having later been for eleven years a councillor in Fraserburgh. Bruce Knight Gardiner (1961-67) MA, BD, PhD has demined his charge as minister of St Ninian's & Forglen at Turriff, to which he was inducted only in 1998. He has taken up a post as honorary research fellow in Hebrew Bible at Aberdeen University. He has recently published The Genesis Calendar in which he establishes a link between the Old Testament Book of Genesis and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Michael Peter Gill (1939-52) DA, after a spell painting, designing stage sets and doing some teaching attended Moray House College of Education before becoming a special assistant in the Art Department of Madras College, St Andrews. In 1968 he was appointed Head of the Art Department of Fettes College and three years later moved to George Watson's College, Edinburgh as Director of the Art School. He retired in 1995. 78
Former Pupils' Club Section Arthur Grant (1948-51) served for twenty-five years with the regular Army, followed by eleven years with the Territorials. He retired in 1994 with the rank of Major, since when he has been living in the heart of Celtic Brittany. William Henderson Guthrie (1939-51) served an engineering apprenticeship with John Lewis & Sons and graduated from RGIT in naval architecture and electrical and electronic engineering. He was for some time en engineer with the Hydro Electric Board before emigrating to Canada in 1975 where he worked as a senior designer on projects in Newfoundland and Manitoba. He was later engaged on projects in Ontario and in Egypt, Indonesia, India and Ghana. In 1980 he joined the St Lawrence Seaway Authority as a technical officer in engineering maintenance, working in the Niagara region on the Welland Canal. After five years in corporate engineering services he retired in 1998 and lives in Brighton, Ontario where he golfs, bowls and dabbles in model railways and buses. Andrew S. Haw (1990-95) has been increasingly involved in tennis since leaving School. He has worked for several years with juniors at Rubislaw Tennis Club in Aberdeen, maintaining the interest of current members and attracting new ones. Last January he became a qualified LTA coach and is now Junior Coach at Rubislaw. He also works with special needs players at the Westburn Tennis Centre and this season has coached at Banchory and Stonehaven, where he works with both juniors and seniors at beginner and improver levels. He combines his tennis with a Corporate Communication course at Robert Gordon University, where he has just completed first year. John Miller Hay (1913-19) has written to the Chairman following one of his newsletters, and recalls being enrolled in the School by Dr Morland Simpson, "a great educator and much admired." Brief research suggests that, as he approaches his ninety-eighth birthday in July, he is probably the oldest member of the FP Club. Apart from a brief spell working in London after he left School, he has spent his life in South America. He originally entered the service of Williamson, Balfour & Co., merchants and bankers in Valparaiso. From 1944 he was farming his own property in the state of Parana, Brazil, where he was engaged in the cultivation of coffee, breeding zebu Indian cattle and raising pigs. In his letter he confesses to faulty eyesight but he maintains his interest in School and Club. Denys Hartley Henderson (1938-50) LL.B retired at the end of April as chairman of the Rank Organisation, the London-based entertainment group. He took up this post following his retirement in 1995 as chairman of ICI. Kenneth John Hogg (1929-41) had a life-time career with Scottish Agricultural Industries at Dyce, Ayr and Leith. He joined the company in 1941 and, apart from service with the RAF in 1944-47 worked initially as a laboratory assistant, then as an industrial chemist and finally as an X-ray analyst. Since retiring in 1985 he has occupied himself with a variety of voluntary duties in connection with St Columba's Hospice, Edinburgh. Robert Bruce Macneil Howie (1972-78) LL.B, who has for several years been in practice as an advocate at the Scottish bar, recently had the rank and dignity of Queen's Counsel in Scotland conferred upon him. Keith Anderson Ingram (1972-78) LL.B has resigned from his partnership in the Aberdeen law firm Stronachs and has joined Cooper & Hay, advocates. He specialises in private client and property law. Gordon Mackay Inkson (1986-92) LL.B is now a member of the corporate department of lain Smith & Co, solicitors, in Aberdeen. 79
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine David Jack (1944-50) BSc, DipAgri, DipTropAgri, about whom notes have appeared in the last two issues of the Magazine, has now retired after almost fifty years in the farming industry. The man behind the establishment of Scotland's grain quality assurance scheme has sold his 200 hectare dairy and arable unit at Jackstown, Rothienorman. Jeremy Neil Kemsley (1941-51) CA lives in Guernsey, where he recently retired as a director of an investment advisory business. After leaving school he spent six years in Edinburgh during which time he was capped for Scotland at both cricket and badminton. He rates his greatest achievement as being the first Scottish player to score a century against the MCC, which he did at Lords in 1956 - a feat repeated at Mannofield the following year. After qualifying as a chartered accountant he moved to Southern Rhodesia where, after a spell with Deloittes, he took up a financial management position with the National Electricity Supply Commission. He resigned as Deputy General Manager in 1984 and moved to Guernsey. Julie Elizabeth Knaggs (now Avey) (1979-85) who, as reported two years ago, worked in Trinidad for SmithKline Beecham has now left their employment and, following the birth of a second child (a daughter this time) this spring, is enjoying motherhood at home. Alistair Kenneth Gordon Lamont (1952-65) FIWM, after twenty-three years as engineering service manager with the Cleansing Department of Dundee City Council, secured early release in September 1997. In the following month he set up his own business, Alistair Lamont Associates, dealing in waste and environmental management training, assessment, research and consultancy. The business expanded rapidly and now has offices and a training facility in central Broughty Ferry, and serves customers across Scotland as well as assessing managers for technical competence throughout the UK for several national companies. He has been a prominent member of the Institute of Wastes Management for many years, both in Scotland and in the UK, serving as both a Scottish Centre and a General Councillor, specialising in Science & Technology and Education & Training. He is well known in the industry for lectures and presentations on all aspects of waste management but particularly in healthcare waste management and in composting. He has most recently been appointed to chair the Institute's biological treatment working group, and his continuing efforts for the Institute have been recognised by his election as a Fellow. Joseph Leiper (1953-59) MA, DipEd, ACII was in October last year elected Convener of the Business Committee of the General Council of Aberdeen University and was appointed to the University Court. He has been Rector of Oldmachar Academy, Aberdeen since 1984. Hilary Fare MacDonald (now Grimminck) (1978- 84) after several years in private practice, most recently as legal counsel to Anaconda Nickel Ltd. in Perth, Western Australia, has now resigned to look after her son, Daniel, born in February last year. Her twin brother James Telfer MacDonald (1978-84) lives in Manhattan where he manages health and finless clinics. Their sister Kate Elizabeth MacDonald (now Marsh) (1976-81) lives in Dorset with her husband and two daughters. She is involved part-time as a freelance editor. Barry James McGlashan (1986-92), whose marriage is reported elsewhere in this Magazine, has won the top Shell Expro award at this year's exhibition by the Aberdeen Artists Society. He is presently in the United States, in the mid-West and on the east coast thanks to winning a prestigious prize in the Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship. The prize combines a cash award to enable him to develop his work through travel with a solo exhibition later this year at the Royal Scottish Academy. Barry is a former winner of the Macallan Award in 1996 and the Guthrie Award in 1998. Meanwhile another FP artist, Rowan Risby (1989-95), is also developing her talents in America, where she is studying for her M.A. at Yale University. Alexander Norman Main (1954-60) MA is Professor of Psychology at Murdoch University, Western Australia and is now also Honorary Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, Australia. He continues to research, teach and carry out public 80
Former Pupils' Club Section service in areas of concern to migrants and refugees. Recently he was appointed President of the Council for International Students. In order to take up this post he has relinquished his role as chairman of the Association for Services to Torture & Trauma Survivors and his presidency of the Scottish Heritage Centre. He contributes to the Fremantle Burns Club. John Richard Masson (1937-43) OBE, MA joined the Colonial Service after graduating and served for twenty years in Swaziland. He worked in the private sector there between 1971 and retiral in 1989 apart from the period 1978-83 when he was a member of Parliament and Deputy Finance Minister. lie is still resident in Mbabane, Swaziland. John Gitlin] Mitchell (1990-96) graduated in law with honours from Aberdeen University last year and has now completed his Diploma in Legal Practice. He starts a traineeship with Adam Cochran, advocates in Aberdeen. this autumn. He has recently been elected to the Executive of the FP Club. Leslie McKenzie Nicol (1949-57) BSc(Eng), MSc has retired from his post as Principal Lecturer at Staffordshire Business School. With his degree in electrical engineering he worked with AEI in Manchester and Motherwell and with Aerialite in Stockport as Production Engineer, Training Manager and Systems Analyst before joining P.A. Management in Lancashire as a consultant. After two years as a works director in Croydon he returned to the North-west with I.T.T. Components. Redundancy gave him the chance to research at U.M.1.S.T. for a Master's and he spent the next fifteen years teaching production and general management at Leeds Polytechnic and Staffordshire University from which he took early retirement in order to care for his terminally ill wife and father-in-law. He still lives in North Wales. James Martin Ogilvie (1944-47) gained an HNC in analytical chemistry before National Service in the R.A.F. as a Flight Engineer on Neptunes in Coastal Command. Thereafter his work involved analyses of fish, animals, soils and plants for over thirty years. He finally retired after eight years as a Health & Safety adviser. He lives in Peterculter. Douglas James Cochar Patterson (1926-38) joined his father in the restaurant and licensed catering business in Aberdeen. On the outbreak of war he joined N.A.A.F.I. as a manager to open canteens and restaurants in the Highlands. When eligible for call-up he was sent to the Middle East with R.A.S.C. to carry out the same functions for the 8th Army. He was commissioned in 1945 and continued in the same line of work, finally in Palestine. On demob he went into the insurance business. retiring in 1984 as Southern Region Pensions Manager for the Scottish Life Insurance Company. Alan Philip Rockwell (1983-89) LL.B, who qualified as a solicitor in Scotland is currently working in London in the banking and finance department of Freshfields Bruckhams Deringer, an international law firm. He recently completed a secondment as in-house counsel with Citibank. George Geddes Shirriffs (1947-57) MBChB, FRCGP, who has been in general practice in Aberdeen since 1969, was in April presented with the President's Medal of the Royal College of General Practitioners. The medal, which has only been awarded twice before, is presented to the Fellow who has done most to promote the aims and objectives of the College. Dr Shirriffs has been chairman of the College's Scottish Council and education chairman of RCGP UK. David Pringle Smith (1945-47), having completed his year as Captain of Keighley Golf Club, was elected to the Executive Committee of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs in February 2000 for a period of four years. Specific duties include being a County Selector and member of the County's Championship Sub-committee, and membership of the Course Assessment Panel. He is a regular attender at the Yorkshire Centre Dinner. 81
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Paul Graeme Smith (1986-92), whose marriage is reported elsewhere in this Magazine, has now returned to Aberdeen after a spell based in Broughty Ferry and St Andrews, and is working as an Independent Financial Adviser. He and Denise (nee Niddrie) (1987-93) have a son, horn in January this year which provides Denise with full-time work. Ian Bernaud Stephen (1948-57) MA is a leading figure in the field of forensic psychology in the UK. He began to study languages at Aberdeen University before switching to a psychology degree. After graduating in 1962 he went on to teacher training before moving to central Scotland. He moved into educational psychology and more involvement with problem adolescents, which in turn brought him into working with offenders. He was one of the founders of the pioneering "special unit- at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison which aimed to offer therapy for difficult prisoners. He worked for many years with offenders in the community, and was for ten years director of psychology at the State Hospital at Carstairs until retiring in the mid-90s. He has been in much demand by the media as an adviser on criminal character development in such TV series as Cracker, Prime Suspect and Touch of Frost. Arthur David Stewart (1963-76) moved back to the Aberdeen area from Edinburgh in 1998. He is a lecturer in sport and exercise science at Aberdeen University. He is the author of the article elsewhere in this Magazine on climbing in the Canadian Rockies. His brother Anthony Kenneth Stewart (1962-75), whose marriage is reported below, is resident in Calgary, Alberta. Colin David Taylor (1958-63), who was reported last year as being Divisional Director in Aberdeen of HSBC Insurance Brokers Ltd., has now been appointed as manager by Senior Wright Ltd., a Lloyd's Broker, to open and establish an Aberdeen branch office. lain Wares (1942-52), the Club Consul in Sardinia, who celebrated his Silver Wedding in July last year, has sent the Editor a copy of an item From the John 0 'Groat Journal quoting a news item of January 1976, to the effect that a Caithness man, lain Wares, had married an Italian Countess. Mr Wares, said the report, ran a school for students of English language and literature in Cagliari in Sardinia, and had wed the Contessa Maria Vittoria Campodonica Fenu dei Conti de Santa Margherita dei Liguria. lain notes that the wedding never made the Magazine at the time, but comments that, as will be seen from the dates above, it took some time for the news to reach Wick. Our omission is now, belatedly, made good. Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt (1931-43) MA, DPhil, DLitt, FRHistS, FRSE, a report of whose honorary graduation appears elsewhere in these Notes, has recently had published Medieval Church Councils in Scotland, which is described as an authoritative study from Latin and English records based on original sources. This is a work of considerable historical interest, bringing discussion of the councils and their significance into the broader context of Scotland's political, legal, ecclesiastical and social situation over a long period. John Watt (1958-71) LL.B, who has been a member of the Procurator Fiscal Service since 1980, was last year appointed Procurator Fiscal at Kilmarnock. Gordon Scott Williams (1933-46) is still coaching hockey on a voluntary basis at three schools near his home in Farnham. He remarks that each year as he gets older the young seem to get quicker. Ian Wolkoff (1942-55) has written to the Editor up-dating the family history. He served an apprenticeship with the then Post Office Telephones and spent 42 years in the communications business. He worked mostly in Aberdeen, but spent seven years In Buckingham in a BT training college, with a spell in London lecturing on Submarine Cable Jointing. He returned to Aberdeen as a Training Officer and finally moved into the Operations Division as a Senior Customer Service Manager. After retiring in 1998 he spent a year as a training consultant with a computer software company. His older brother William Wassili Wolkoff (1942-53) joined the Bristol Aircraft Corporation as an airframe 82
Former Pupils' Club Section apprentice and worked on many planes, including early design work on the Concorde. He was poached by Boeing first to work in London and then in Seattle. On the demise of the Boeing supersonic project he moved to McDonnell Douglas. For the last twenty years he has been a standards engineer in Columbia, Missouri with a company manufacturing domestic appliances. The youngest of the family, Michael Leonard Wolkoff (1947-59) initially served a motor engineering apprenticeship with the Harper Motor Company in Aberdeen, but then returned to College and spent three years teaching in Peterhead. He then changed course and was a sales representative for a number of firms before taking up his present post as a Technical Officer with Aberdeen City Council. All three are the sons of the late John Wolkoff (1918-26) who came to Aberdeen from Moscow following his family's escape from the Russian Revolution in 1917. In his early days at the School he was greatly helped by the late Joseph Robert Carry (1918-30) who took the - new boy from Russia" under his wing and probably taught him much of his English. Jeremy David Wood (1974-79) is Regional Operations Manager for Electronic Data Systems' infrastructure contract for BR. His remit stretches from Sullom Voe to Cairo in delivering desktop and infrastructure support. He has been with EOS for fourteen years, having previously spent time with Grampian Regional Council, Aberdeen Journals and Grampian Health Board since graduating in 1982. David Kenneth Yule (1951-65) MA, DPM, a former editor of the Magazine, retired from the office of the University of Aberdeen in July last year. Having gained a diploma in personnel management from the then Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology in 1971, he began work for the University initially in the personnel area, but was promoted in 1974 to be Clerk to the Medical Faculty, and spent the rest of his career in general administration. This included appointments as administrative officer for all the faculties except Science, Clerk to the Court, Planning Officer, Director of the University Secretariat and Director of the Court Office. While a contributory factor to his (very) early retirement was the stroke which his wife suffered in 1999, he finds that retirement is the career for which his aptitudes and interests are most suited, and puzzles daily over how he ever found time to work. Formerly a member of the FP Executive Committee and, briefly, of the Club Centre Management Committee, he is not currently involved in FP affairs, but continues to be one of those who attempt to organise reunions of his School year. William Yule (1945-58) MA, DipPsych was appointed Honorary Clinical Psychologist to the British Army in March 2000.
Marriages Brown (1982-88) - At St Mark's Church, Aberdeen on 5 May 2001 Alexander Philip Jamieson, elder son of Mr & Mrs Sandy Jamieson, Thornhill Road, Cuminestown, to Rosemary Ann Brown, only daughter of Mr & Mrs Alistair Brown, 15 Raeden Avenue, Aberdeen Cromarty (1988-94) - At St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen on 11 August 2000 Mark Cromarty, son of Mr & Mrs Ian Cromarty, 16 Dubford Gardens, Aberdeen, to Emma Louise Coutts, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ron Coutts, Craighar, Stoneywood Terrace, Aberdeen Grahame (1983-89) - At New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden on 30 June 2000 Alistair James Grahame, son of Mr & Mrs Norman Grahame, 47 Devonshire Road, Aberdeen, to Maria de La Paz, elder daughter of the late Pedro & Maria Espain Erencedo, Buenos Aires Gray (1985-91) - At Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen on 29 April 2000 Phillip Goby of Keyingham, East Yorks, to Gillian Anne Gray, daughter of Mr & Mrs George S. Gray, 63 Ashley Road, Aberdeen 83
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Greenwood (1988-91) - At King's College Chapel. Aberdeen on 29 September 2000 Alistair Wells, Hopetoun Street, Edinburgh to Louisa-Jane Greenwood, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ron Greenwood, 43 Carlton Place. Aberdeen
Hatrick (1969-74) - At Dyce Parish Church, Aberdeen on 10 March 2001 Gordon McGregor Hatrick. son of the late Mr & Mrs Hatrick, 21 West Mount Street, Aberdeen to Nicola Low, Raxton Place, Dyce, Aberdeen
Herrera (1983-89) - At St Mary's Church, Blairs on 23 September 2000 Ralph Nicolaas Herrera, son of Mr & Mrs Derek F. Herrera, 5 Beechwood Place, Westhill, Aberdeen to Fiona Davidson, Shetland Walk, Aberdeen
Kelty (1983-89) - At St Martin's, Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire on 17 November 2000 Clive Johnston Kelty, twin son of Mr & Mrs J.M. Kelty, 3 Edgehill Road, Aberdeen to Beverley Anne Wilkinson MB,ChB, only daughter of Mr & Mrs A. Wilkinson. 20 St Mary's Road, Walkden, Manchester
McGlashan (1986-92) - At Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen on 2 October 1999 Barry James McGlashan, son of Mrs Gertie McGlashan, Momingside Gardens. Aberdeen to Wendy Tole, daughter of Mr & Mrs Lloyd Tole, Dunfermline
McGlashan (1978-83) - At the Town House, Aberdeen on 7 July 2000 Alastair John Brodie. eldest son of Mr & Mrs Donald Brodie, Helensburgh to Amanda Jane McGlashan, elder daughter of Mrs Gertie McGlashan, Momingside Gardens, Aberdeen MacRae (1985-91) - At Edinburgh Registry Office on 20 May 2000 Paul Jordan, Bingley, Yorkshire to Lee-Rose MacRae. daughter of Mr & Mrs Allan MacRae, 2 Young Road, London Madigan (1985-89) - At the Town House. Aberdeen on I September 2000 James Paul Madigan, son of Mr & Mrs Trevor Madigan, formerly 79 Mile End Avenue,Aberdeen to Connie Smith, daughter of Mr & Mrs Alexander Smith, 39 Kildrummy Road, Aberdeen
Murray (1975-81) - In Gibraltar on 24 April 1997 Keith C. Robathan, Capel lwan, Newcastle Emlyn, Wales to Pamela Gordon Murray, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ian Murray, 29 Woodhill Road, Aberdeen Mulch (1980-84) - At Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen on 19 August 2000 John Edgar Mulch, only son of the late Harry Mutch and of Mrs Susan Mutch, 90 Burns Road. Aberdeen to Christine Main, youngest daughter of the late David Mair and of Mrs Phyllis Mair, 5 Westerton Crescent, Aberdeen
Philpot (1982-86) - At St James' Church, St Andrews on 28 April 2001 Timothy Richard Philpot, youngest son of Mr & Mrs Paul Philpot, 2a Royfold Crescent, Aberdeen to Marie, only daughter of Mr & Mrs J. Gray, Memsie, Fraserburgh
Rolph (1982-87) - At St John's Church. Forfar on 22 July 2000 Simon Gavin Rolph, younger son of Mr Geoffrey D. Rolph, Padbury, Bucks and of Mrs Wendy Rolfe, Surbiton, Surrey to Sophie A.J. Hill, daughter of Mr & Mrs Michael Hill, Forfar, Angus Schmitz (1982-88) and Park (1982-88) - At King's College Chapel. Aberdeen on 13 May 2000 Karl Anton Leo Schmitz. son of Mr & Mrs Anthony F. Schmitz, 77 University Road, Aberdeen to Deborah Jane Park, daughter of Mr & Mrs Raymond Park, 33 Momingfield Road, Aberdeen
Simpson (1986-91) - At Banchory Teman East Church on 9 September 2000 Richard James Quinn, Taverham, Norwich to Dawn Marie Simpson, only daughter of Mr & Mrs William L. Simpson, 95 Cromwell Road, Aberdeen 84
Former Pupils' Club Section Smith (1986-92) and Niddrie (1987-93) - At Ferryhill Parish Church, Aberdeen on 15 August 1998 Paul Graeme Smith, only son of Mr & Mrs Graeme Smith, 1 Deemount Avenue, Aberdeen to Denise Niddrie, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Graham Niddrie, 3 Waulkmill Road, Aberdeen Stewart (1962-75) - At Aberdeen on 10 March 2000 Anthony Kenneth Stewart, elder son of the late Mr Kenneth Stewart and of Mrs Stewart, 35 Belvidere Street, Aberdeen to Wendy Huyton, daughter of the late Mr Huyton and of Mrs Huyton, 9 Ashgrove Gardens South, Aberdeen Weightman (1983-89) - At Drum Castle, near Aberdeen on 24 March 2001 Richard R. Leetham, son of Mr & Mrs Leetham, Yorkshire to Claire Lucinda Weightman, daughter of Mr & Mrs Bruce Weightman, 12 Westhill Grange, Westhill, Skene Wisely (1985-91) - At King's College Chapl, Aberdeen on 27 April 2001 Jonathan Nesbitt, son of Mr & Mrs John McCullough, Greystone Road, Antrim, Northern Ireland to Lynn Wisely, elder daughter of Mr & Mrs David Wisely, 100 Comhill Road, Aberdeen
Obituaries Alastair Aitken (1927-31) died peacefully in a nursing home in Aberdeen on 28 December 2000 aged 86. Born and brought up in Cults he completed his secondary education at the Grammar. Having gone into banking he was, when called to war service, initially placed in the Royal Army Pay Corps He was later commissioned in the Royal Artillery before transferring to the Gordon Highlanders in the 51st Division. lie returned to banking and became a manager at Kintore in the mid-1960s. He retired in 1975 as manager at Insch. His wife, whom he married in 1941, died in 1999 and he had only recently moved back to Aberdeen at the time of his death. He is survived by two daughters and their families. John Bernard Anton (1936-46) MA died peacefully at his home in Applecross, Western Australia on 18 November 2000 after a short illness. He was aged 71. Proxime accessit to the Dux of the School in 1946 he went on to Aberdeen University where he graduated in Arts in 1953. He then joined the Eastern Bank and was posted successively to Colombo, Bahrein and Baghdad. Tiring a little of banking, he changed course, and at the age of 29 he enrolled in the English Law Society's Law School at Lancaster Gate, London. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1961. His aim had been to practice in Australia and two years later he went to Geraldtown in Western Australia. After some years in private practice there, he was appointed a stipendiary magistrate at Kalgoorlie in 1968 and thereafter at Midland and the Central Law Courts in Perth. A man of towering intellect, he earned a reputation as a firm but fair judge. He retired in 1990 and decided to return to Aberdeen; this proved to be short-lived, as he missed the friends he had made in Australia particularly through his two great interests, golf and chess. He was a keen, rather than an expert, golfer, but as a chess player he was both scholarly and interesting. Milo Don Appleman (1954-55) has died in California aged 62. He attended the School for one session, which he spent in Upper IV, his father being in Aberdeen as Visiting Professor of Biology at the University. In later years he commented on a number of occasions how much he had enjoyed his year in the Grammar, following which he spent two months doing the Grand Tour of Europe. He later qualified in Medicine and was in practice in Los Angeles. He visited the School when on holiday in 1.963, and maintained his interest through Life Membership of the FP Club. Alexander Gordon Beattie (1922-34) MB,ChB, DPH died peacefully, after a short illness, in hospital in Aberdeen on 8 November 2000, aged 84. After a year's general practice at Insch he was called up to the RAF Medical Service. From 1945 he was in general practice 85
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine in Aberdeen and was for almost forty years the medical officer to Aberdeen's police force. He was for many years Regional Medical Officer for employees of Grampian Regional Council. In the 1950s he created a number of pioneering wildlife films of golden eagles and stags in the Cairngorms. Dr Beattie is survived by his wife, two sons and five grandchildren. Charles Michael Macintyre Begg (1933-36) MA, BSc, PhD, FRS(Edin) died suddenly at his home in Aberdeen on 3 February 2001, aged 81. He graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1939, and was awarded the MacGillivray Prize in Zoology. He then graduated in Science three years later, with First Class Honours in Zoology, receiving the Lyon Prize for the most distinguished Science graduate of 1941-42. He was awarded his doctorate from Birmingham University in 1944. He joined the Natural History Department at Aberdeen as an assistant and was shortly appointed a Carnegie Teaching Fellow. He resigned this in the summer of 1946 in order to join an Antarctic expedition as biologist sponsored by the committee of 'Discovery' Investigations. The main purpose of the expedition was to examine the whaling position in that area for the Falkland Dependencies and investigate the possibility of whale meat being used as food for humans. His article 'South with a Modern Whaler' appeared in the Magazine of June 1947 (vol.L,152). He was for a time a lecturer in Animal Genetics in Edinburgh, later a lecturer and then Reader in Zoology at Aberdeen. He is survived by his wife, his first wife having died some years ago. His brother Rt Rev Ian Forbes Begg (1926-28) died in 1989. Distinguished Academic John Low Brebner (1938-51) BSc, PhD died peacefully at his home in Montreal on 29 January 2001 aged 67. He was the son of John Brebner (1894-1900). Stephen A.C. Robertson (1939-51) writes: "At School, where he was a prefect and Byron House Captain, he excelled at everything he touched. When he went up to Aberdeen University his chosen field, among the many for which he would have easily qualified, was Natural Philosophy and he duly took a First four years later, followed by his doctorate in 1959. During this long period of study his main recreation was FP Rugby, at a time when it was not quite at the peak enjoyed in the immediate post-war years, but was still a prodigious force in Scotland. Johnny played full-back - usually for Firsts and gaining also the occasional representative honour - but his interest was as much in the social side of the game, when the George Hotel on a Saturday night was virtually the Club Centre of its day. No doubt it was the social side that tempted him into the Students' Show, where a suddenly discovered enthusiasm for organising things led to his appointment to the top back-stage job of Administrator, his hidden agenda later emerging simply as being in a position to dispense loads of beer to the lads and a similar amount of gruff charm to the adoring chorus girls. "When he fmally, and rather reluctantly, left his rather cosy Aberdeen world in order to earn a living he naturally remained an academic, firstly with the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa, where he continued to play rugby for Ottawa Beavers, and then doing research with Cyanamid in Geneva, where he met Eva Pobitschka, the girl he was to marry. That was in 1967, following which he returned to Canada as Associate Professor of Solid State Physics at the University of Montreal. A full professorship was awarded in 1974, which involved not only the usual teaching and administrative duties but also the often frustrating task of raising funds for the research projects carried out by his department. That is the way it is in North America, and a further challenge at Montreal was that it is, of course, a French-speaking establishment, including professorial lectures - and Johnny's memory of the grammar and colloquialisms instilled in us as schoolboys by the fondly remembered 'Sly Bacon' Cunningham all these years before was put sternly to the test. That he triumphantly passed - and almost certainly spoke better French than those sloppy Quebecois denied an Aberdeen Grammar School education - may also have had something to do with living in Geneva for a while, but in any event it is evidenced by his tenure of the chair until he retired at the end of 2000. Sadly, the last five years of his life were dogged by ill-health, but he kept on working and it was a great joy to him that before his death, which 86
Former Pupils' Club Section he knew would not be long in coming, he was able to see both his sons launched on good careers. Jim, inheriting another paternal, and, indeed, Brebner family gift, is a musician, and Nick is a vet who intends specialising in surgery. As for the gentle and charming Eva, a devoted Christian, she is the secretary of the Anglican Cathedral in Montreal and was proud to attend the University of Montreal graduation on 25 May this year when she accepted a special award on Johnny's behalf. This was the exceptional and posthumous conferment of the title 'Professor Emeritus' - described by the Rector of the University Council as 'recognising your husband's participation in the University's different activities, this high and rare distinction confirms the University's respect for his distinguished career'. "Although exiled for more than forty years, Johnny never lost his affection for Scotland, Aberdeen and his old School and University. He wasn't a diligent correspondent - life in Canada was far too busy and interesting for that - but when he did make contact he always liked to hear about his old contemporaries and particularly his pals in the Rugby Club which had given him so much enjoyment in the '50s. Among those who did keep in touch, Ruaraidh McIntyre (1945-51), whose medical career took him to Canada also, managed, despite his own ill-health, to get down from Ottawa to the funeral service which he found extremely impressive, being in both French and English, with very Scottish overtones. There he met, for the first time since Aberdeen days, Johnny's sisters Noel and Lilias. Ruaraidh had also been a great support in the last few months of Johnny's life, and on his last visit had taken a bottle of Glenmorangie which the pair of them had tried to demolish as they traded insults as extravagantly as they had done twenty, thirty, fifty years before. 'But we're not the men we used to be,' Ruaraidh wrote, 'and so there was some whisky left next morning'. The probability is that he smuggled the bottle away again, not to finish but to treasure untouched in loving memory. Which all of us who knew Johnny share". Ronald Forbes Buthlay (1925-38) died peacefully in hospital in Bath on 7 July 2000 after a long illness. He was just three weeks short of his eightieth birthday. Vice-captain of Athletics in his final year at School and a regular member of the 1st XV, he was the Open Champion at the 1936 School Sports with a wide range of successes. His 124 feet with the discus was considered a distance possibly unsurpassed by a schoolboy in Scotland at that time. He was a key member of the FP Rugby 1st XV and played regularly in the renowned side of 1947-48 which topped the Scottish unofficial championship table. He also made several appearances in District sides, notably for North of Scotland -v- Australia at Aberdeen in October 1947. He moved to England and was for a time in business in Hertfordshire. He was a keen golfer and in later years, now living at Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, he was the first captain to lead Wiltshire County Golf Club to victory in the South Western Counties Championship. He was also secretary of the Wiltshire County Golf Union and South Western Counties. He is survived by his wife and three sons. His brothers also attended the School - Eric (1928-40) who died in 1982 and Kenneth (1930-42). Leslie Stuart Cantlay (1958-63) MB,ChB, FRCPsych died suddenly at his home at Bishop Auckland on 5 January 2001 aged 55. Ian R. McLeod (1952-63) writes: "Leslie was born in Aberdeen, although his early primary education was in Laurencekirk. At the age of 8, he left with his parents for Rhodesia, and later settled in Nyasaland in 1956. He was a gifted and accomplished child, and his mother proudly recalls that, at the age of twelve, he was dux of all Africa for English prose and verse speaking. The family returned to Aberdeen in 1958 and his talents took him to the School. Lest we think of Les as too much of an academic, however, his sisters tell of his boisterous, boyish activity around his uncle's farm, where he fell into the silage pit whilst wearing his new school uniform. He would often also get off the bus at Mounthooly to get chips on the way home. "After School, in the middle of the swinging '60s, in those halcyon days of Elvis Presley (who was his hero) Les read medicine at Aberdeen University. It was during his training years that he met and fell in love with Sheila, whom he married in King's College Chapel in 1969. His interest in medicine soon took a new direction and, leaving his medical and 87
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surgical skills behind, he went on to study psychiatry. In 1972 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and, with his family, travelled the world enjoying all that army life offered. He particularly enjoyed working with his patients and teaching junior staff. Wherever he was, he was a proud Scot. He was precise and meticulous; somewhat eccentric, he loved collecting his match box cars, aeroplanes and he even had a train set later in life. After sixteen years of army life he joined the Hospital at Winterton, and after it closed he moved to practice in Bishop Auckland and Darlington. "Les's career in psychiatry was forged with people from all backgrounds, ages and cultures who suffer from mental illness. Throughout his professional life he continually challenged the stigma, fear and misunderstanding surrounding mental health issues - the prejudice and discrimination which excludes people from opportunities to participate and contribute - the negative assumptions about their capabilities that make it difficult for them to find a job. His healing ministry was like music for those with mental health problems, and he continued throughout his career to give hope and acceptance, comfort and reassurance, whether it was to young frightened soldiers in Northern Ireland or to an unemployed mother in Darlington. In the demanding world of psychiatric illness he daily pushed back the darkness, and through his work he gave people hope and a new desire to live and grow. He was an experienced and accomplished doctor, and his was a career that brought him respect and admiration from his colleagues throughout the Army Corps and the Hospital Trust. He will be sadly missed by his family, his friends, his colleagues and his patients". Leslie is survived by his wife, Sheila, and by two daughters. Derek Chalmers (1930-42) MB,ChB died peacefully in hospital at Camberley on 28 November 2000 aged 75. After graduating in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1954 he held the usual residency hospital posts in Aberdeen and elsewhere before becoming a registrar in dermatology at Dundee and later at Aberdeen. After a period in Edinburgh he was appointed director of medical affairs for E.R. Squibb & Sons in Twickenham in 1964. He was appointed as a dermatologist at Great Ormond Street hospital, London in 1969. He retired some years ago. He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter. James Milne Thomson Cheyne (1938-52) died suddenly at his home in Edinburgh on 16 September 1999 aged 65. He was born in Burma where his father, George Collie Cheyne (1900-04), was with the Indian Civil Service. lie was Vice-captain and stand-off half of the undefeated School XV of season 1951-52 (captained by Andrew Noble whose death is reported below) and the Magazine of July 1952 records that he was "a brilliant player and goal-kicker who scored a quarter of his side's points". He was a drummer in the school pipe band. During National Service with the RAF he was a drill instructor at Pirbright. He then went to Malaya as a rubber planter, where he completed two tours of duty. While in the Far East he was involved with the Malayan Centre of the FP Club and enjoyed meeting several former school friends. On his return to the UK he initially took up farming before deciding to go to University to obtain an agricultural qualification. After completing his course he joined Strutt & Parker as their farming specialist in Scotland, and remained with them for the rest of his career. He worked in Morayshire for a spell and then in Edinburgh. His main hobby was golf. He is survived by his wife, whom he married in 1960, by a son and daughter and by four grand-children. His brother Alexander Ian Cheyne (1937-48) lives at Kippen. Ian Ainsley Fearon David (1930-40) MA, BSc(Eng), FSA(Scot) died peacefully in hospital at Aboyne on 26 December 2000 aged 78. He graduated in Engineering from Aberdeen University in 1943 and was then called up to war service and commissioned in REME. He volunteered for the Airborne Forces and served with the 2nd Indian Airborne Division in Burma, India and Pakistan until 1947. After graduating in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1949 he taught in schools in Aberdeen until 1953. After three years on the staff of Nuneaton Technical College, Warwickshire, he returned to Aberdeen where he taught Science at Rosemount Junior Secondary School and then at Kincorth Academy. While in Nuneaton he played for Nuneaton Saracens RFC, having previously captained Aberdeenshire Rugby Club for three seasons. 88
Former Pupils' Club Section He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter and three grandchildren. He was a brother of Robert Fearon David (1929-40) Alan Davies (1954-62) BSc died peacefully in Aberdeen in August 2000 aged 54. He came to the Grammar at the age of eight, and left at sixteen to go to the School of Navigation. He found great fulfilment representing the school at cricket and rugby while at the same time trying to forge ahead in professional football. He had many trials with football clubs and the game remained his great passion. After a career in the Merchant Navy as a Navigation Officer he entered Aberdeen University where he took a science degree. He then joined the Metropolitan Police and much enjoyed life in London, where as a loyal Scot, he supported our football and rugby international teams with great displays of tartan and the national drink. After leaving the police Alan became a teacher/house-parent at special units for adolescent boys who faced turmoil and conflict with society. He actively encouraged and nurtured them to try varied sports and recreational hobbies. He himself found new talents, becoming a Football Association coach, an accomplished canoeist and a hilarious pantomime dame. He then went back to sea, gaining his Captain's Ticket which opened doors for him in the oil industry. He worked for many years with Total Oil Marine, eventually becoming their head of operational safety. As such, he travelled throughout Britain and Europe, developing and implementing the company's forward-thinking approach to the safety of personnel along with the design and maintenance of production platforms. He was seconded as Total's representative on an international consortium in Kazahkstan, helping this emerging country to develop new oil fields and lay down an infrastructure which has allowed western standards of safety to be adopted. On taking early retirement, Alan became a consultant in the Middle East making his auditing and investigative skills available to companies there. Scouting Stalwart John Connon Esslemont (1910-22) BCom died peacefully in an Aberdeen Nursing Home on 29 June 2000 aged 95. After graduating at Aberdeen University in 1925 he joined his father in the business of wholesale and manufacturing confectioners which had been founded by his grandfather. He became a director of the firm in 1933 and ran the business along with his sister and later one of his sons. He was variously president of the Aberdeen & District, then the Scottish and fmally the Great Britain & Northern Ireland organisations of wholesale confectioners. Jack, as he was familiarly known by a wide circle of colleagues and friends, was a stalwart of the Scout Movement. He was a Cub and then a Scout in the School's 9th Troop, went on to help to found the Ilth Troop, eventually served as District Commissioner and ultimately became Assistant County Commissioner in 1959. In 1965 he was awarded the Silver Wolf, Scouting's highest award, in recognition of his exceptional services to the Movement. He was the also the holder of the Long Service Decoration. He was heavily involved in the re-launch of the Aberdeen Gang Shows in the late 1950s, to which he brought his wonderful sense of humour, his great enthusiasm and his undoubted managerial skills. Jack was predeceased by his wife several years ago, but is survived by his sons lain (193950) and Alan (1941-53) and by five grandchildren. His elder brother Alexander Gordon Esslemont (1908-20) who was a director of Heinz Foods, died a number of years ago. John Davis Flann (1938-41) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 12 January 2001 at the age of 76 following a long illness. He left School at the age of 16 to assist his father in the Exchange Bar in Aberdeen. When of age he was called up to the Royal Air Force serving first in Air Sea Rescue in Scotland and later serving in Ceylon and Singapore. After the war he returned to the licensed trade and following his marriage in 1955 he and his wife ran a licensed grocery business in Aberdeen's Whitehall Road until the 1970s. He then became business and advertising manager for The American, one of the titles of a large chain based in Farnham. This job brought him into close contact with the then rising oil industry and local businesses. This was again a family project, as his wife worked with as a photo/journalist for the paper. They retired in 1988 and he enjoyed reasonable health until struck by a rare and serious condition which meant his having to undergo dialysis for the 89
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine last five years of his life. It is thought that he may have contracted the illness in Singapore and that it had lain dormant for fifty years. He is survived by his wife, two sons who also attended the School - John (1977-78) and Edward (1977-83) - and a daughter, as well as by three grandchildren. Alexander Forsyth (1923-30) BSc, BA, MPS died at Grantown-on-Spey on 5 August 1999 aged 86. After graduating from Aberdeen University he was admitted to membership of the Pharmaceutical Society and took up a post in Hull with Honeywell & Stein, a subsidiary of Distillers Co. Ltd. He was for a time seconded to the Ministry of Supply during the War, and was assistant secretary of the Chemical Control Board in 1941-43. He was a Captain in Surrey Home Guard. He returned briefly to Distillers as sales manager of their biochemicals division and then as head of production and sales, before being appointed in 1950 as wholesale and export manager of T & H Smith Ltd., Edinburgh. He became a director in 1952 and managing director in 1957. He also held directorships in several other chemical firms, including Wm. Paterson (Aberdeen) Ltd., and he served for many years as a member of council of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Following retirement in 1970 he moved to Fortrose, in the Black Isle and was for five years a full-time member of the Highlands & Islands Development Board, at first concerned with industrial development and later, from 1972, with information services and tourism. He was a member of the Scottish Tourist Board. During this period he studied with the Open University and graduated BA in 1980. At this time he moved to West Sussex, looking for new interests in the local history field, but returned to the Highlands ten years later. He is survived by his wife, a son, two daughters and two granddaughters. William Gordon Hendry (1960-66) MBChB, FRCP, FRCPEd died peacefully at Beaconsfield, Bucks on 22 November 2000 aged 51. A Prefect in his 6th year and goalkeeper for the Hockey 2nd XI, he went on to study medicine at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1972. After the usual hospital house posts he decided to specialise in cardiology and became senior registrar at St Mary's Hospital, London at the relatively young age of 30. After seven years he took up the appointment of consultant physician and cardiologist with South Bucks NHS Trust based at Wycombe Hospital, where he created and managed a six-bed coronary care unit. He also set up links with Hammersmith Hospital where he was honorary consultant in the department of clinical cardiology. He was heavily involved in the Active Hearts programme, taking care into the community. He was a keen skier from his school and university days, and was also a golfer. Gordon is survived by his wife, Kirsteen, and by a son and daughter. His father is Dr William Thomson Hendry (1927-30, 1934-39). His younger brothers are also Former Pupils - Alan Leith Hendry (1963-69) and Douglas Thomson Hendry (1968-74). Richard Gemmill Jones (1928-38) FRIBA died peacefully in hospital in Perth on 11 November 2000 aged 80. Born in Assam, India where his father was a tea planter, he was, with his brother Norman Williams Jones (1928-40), one of the first intake of fourteen boys in the School Boarding House at 8 Queen's Road. Architectural training was interrupted by the outbreak of War in 1939, when he was called up with the 75th Regiment Royal Artillery TA. Commissioned into the Scottish Horse and posted to the Middle East, he later took part in the Anzio landings and the subsequent Italian Campaign. He completed his training, and in 1950 obtained his Diploma in Architecture. He was, in addition, awarded the Aberdeen Society of Architects' prize. He was apprenticed to George Bennet Mitchell & Sons, Aberdeen, with whom he remained as an assistant until 1954, when he left to take up a post with Swan & McLaren, a long-established firm of architects in Singapore. He later headed their Kuala Lumpur office. On becoming a partner in 1968, he returned to Singapore. He retired in 1978 on completion of his last major project, the Singapore "Shell Tower", and returned to live in Auchterarder. While in the Far East he was a keen supporter of the Malaysian FP Centre, attending several reunions. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. 90
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Alexander Wylie Logle (1946-50) MB,ChB, MRCP, FRCPE, DA(Lond), DObst, died peacefully on 16 February 2001, following a lengthy illness, aged 62. He left School from Lower IV for a public school secondary education, but returned to Aberdeen University, where he graduated in Medicine in 1963. Following house posts at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary he spent a year as a trainee general practitioner in lnsch before he and his GP wife went as medical officers under the auspices of the Medical Research Council to The Gambia in West Africa. Two years there led to a lifelong interest in Africa and its peoples. A lectureship in therapeutics was followed by an appointment as senior medical registrar in diabetes and endocrinology in Aberdeen. He became a consultant physician at Peel Hospital in the Borders and in its successor Borders General Hospital, in whose planning he played a significant part. He pioneered a diatetic department, expanded the diabetic service and in 1989 became responsible for the Borders Satellite Haemodialysis Unit. He was especially noted for his extensive knowledge of diabetes, and his skill in managing the disorder and its complications. He was heavily involved in the Borders Area Medical Committee, in sundry hospital committees and served for a time as chairman of the Borders Division of the British Medical Association. In 1997 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Association "in recognition of outstanding service to the Association and as a mark of his high esteem in the medical profession". Sandy and his wife had long aimed to resume practice in Africa when career and family responsibilities permitted and in the early 1990s he took up a fresh career as a medical officer in Zambia. In the course of his work there he contracted the HIV virus which is rampant there. In his case the infection developed into full-blown AIDS. He returned to Scotland, and was able to work, while able, as a locum medical consultant. He wrote extensively of his illness, in order to contribute to a wider understanding of the disease and its implications. He made his own contribution to the fight against the scourge of AIDS by undergoing the rigours of the most advanced treatments. Sandy is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and by a daughter and two sons. Alastair MacLennan (1923-29) OBE, MB,ChB died at Newport Pagnell on 27 July 2000 aged 88. From School he attended Aberdeen University where he graduated in Medicine in 1934. He at once took up a short service commission in the RAMC, converting to a permanent commission in 1936. He served in Malta as a Regimental Medical Officer until the early part of the 1939 War, and later was heavily involved, as Assistant Director of Medical Services at the War Office, in the preparation of the medical plan for the invasion ofFrance and the Low Countries. He took part in the Normandy invasion with HQ 21 Army Group, after which he commanded 16 Light Field Ambulance attached to an Armoured Division which took part in the Rhine battles. By now Lieutenant-Colonel, he finished the war at Luneberg Heath close to where the German surrender took place. He then served in the Far East and in the UK until the outbreak hostilities in Korea where he commanded 26 Field Ambulance. In 1951 he was awarded the American Bronze Star for valour arising out of the withdrawal of UN forces south of the Han River. This was covered by 29 Independent Infantry Brigade to which his unit was attached, and they were the last of the UN medical services to leave the north side of the river. He was also mentioned in dispatches for his services in Korea. Between 1952 and 1964 he held various staff appointments as Colonel in Germany, Egypt and the UK, including involvement in the Suez landings in 1956. He became DDMS at HQ I British Corps in Germany for two years before his final posting as DDMS at HQ Southern Command and Deputy Director General of the Army Medical Service from 1967 to 1969, with the rank ofBrigadier. He then became Curator of the RAMC Historical Museum in Mytchett, Hants until 1976. He was accorded the rank of Major-General as a retired officer whose military career extended to 42 years. He claimed that he joined the Army for fun and adventure and that he had found plenty of both and more adventures than he had bargained for. His interests included military history and collecting antique firearms and swords, and he published papers on these subjects. In contrast he was also interested in bird watching and in vintage cars. He was the twin son of Col. Farquhar MacLennan (1888-90) who was also a regular officer in the RAMC. His brother John Duncan MacLennan (1923-29) MD died in 1962. 91
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Dennis Trevor Llewellyn Man (1930, 1936-42) OBE died at his home in Raglan, Gwent on 27 February 2001 aged 76. He was born in Colombia, South America, the elder son of Edward George Marr (1899-1901) and was a pupil at the Prince of Wales College (The British School) in Montevideo, Uruguay before coming to the Grammar School and its Boarding House in 1936. A keen rugby player, he played for the School and was awarded 1st XV colours. He went from School to join the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. He was commissioned in 1943 and served with Combined Operations, attaining the rank of Lieutenant RNVR. He returned to work in Colombia, and an interesting article by him on the uprising in Bogota following the assassination of a Leftist leader appeared in the Magazine of December 1948 (vol. lii, page 39). He became a partner in Frank B. Hill, insurance agents in Maracaibo, Venezuela, acting as general agent for the Royal-Globe Insurance Group in Western Venezuela. He became British Vice-consul in Maracaibo and was appointed MBE and later OBE in recognition of his services in furthering AngloVenezuelan relations. He retired in 1981, initially to Marco Island off the south-west coast of Florida, but he later returned to the UK to live in Gwent. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. His younger brother John Angus Colin Marr (1936-43) died in 1992. William James (Hamish) Gillan Meldrum (1925-35) MB,ChB, BSc, BA died at Enfield on 21 January 2001 aged 83. Born in Edinburgh, he came to the Grammar when his father came to Aberdeen as minister of St George's West Church. Prefect, Vice-captain of Rugby, Captain of Athletics, and President of the Literary & Debating Society in his 6th year, he went on to Aberdeen University, where he graduated in Medicine in 1941. After house posts at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary he enlisted in the RAMC for war service. The War over, he entered General Practice and offered his services mainly in the south of England, latterly, and for many years, to the population of Enfield in the northern suburbs of London, where he earned the accolade "Beloved Physician". When he retired, at the age of 70, he at once committed himself wholeheartedly to further education, successfully completing two degrees through the medium of the Open University. He was also the recipient of a Diploma from the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for a Thesis on the history of medicine. J.1Ft.S. (Donny) Innes writes: "Despite this considerable wealth of quality achieved, Hamish will be remembered principally for his prowess as an athlete, and as a rugby player. Physically his immense size, standing 6'11/2 in his bare feet and weighing 121/2 stones as a schoolboy, may not be remarkable in this day and age, but in the 1930s he was colossal, enjoying also exceptional strength and fleetness of foot. Confirmation of his prowess and achievements is readily available in the catalogue of records he established as a schoolboy in the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, his leap of over 22 feet in the broad jump, and putting the shot a distance of which his contemporaries could only dream. It is readily understandable why this red-haired colossus proved such a potent member of the School 1st XV and such a 'holy tenor' in the eyes of the opposition. But despite his awe-inspiring presence he was at heart a very gentle giant, and most amiable to boot, always gaining respect and admiration for conducting himself as a true 'sportsman' in the old-fashioned sense of that word. In the School's annals, Hamish will stand out amongst the elite, alongside his brother Neil Ian Wilson Meldrum (1925-37). who died in 1991, also eminently memorable for his immense contribution to the outstanding success and wellbeing of the Rugby Section of the FP Club in the latter half of the 20th century" Charles Michie (1925-33) MB,ChB died peacefully in Norfolk on 9 January 2001 aged 83. He graduated in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1940 and in 1942 obtained his Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health. After hospital posts in Aberdeen he joined the Colonial Medical Service in 1942 and was sent to Sierra Leone as a medical officer. After a spell in Gibraltar he was appointed medical officer in tuberculosis with the overseas Civil Service in Tanganyika Territory. After retiring from the Service he was from 1963 to 1974 medical officer on a DHSS pneumoconiosis medical panel in Sheffield. He later held a part-time similar appointment in Glasgow and was clinical assistant in the cytology department of 92
Former Pupils' Club Section Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Dr Michie was the son of Francis William Michie (1885-91). He is survived by his wife, whom he married in 1944, and by a son and daughter. Ian Adam Middleton (1938-44) died peacefully in hospital at Aberdeen on 7 August 2000 aged 75 after a long illness. Born and brought up in Cults, Ian attended Cults Primary School before the Grammar. After School he completed military service with the Scots Guards, mainly in the south of England, where he represented his Battalion at both football and cricket. On his return to Aberdeen he worked for a short time as a clerk with the Corporation Works Department before taking up a post with the Hydro Board as area estates wayleave officer, a post which he held until retiring after forty years' service in 1989. Keith Campbell writes: "Ian's love ofall things connected with sport gave him opportunities, not only on the field of play, where he excelled at hockey and cricket, but also in the realms of hockey umpiring An ongoing back problem forced him to give up playing hockey in 1964, his last game for FPs being against Eastbank (Glasgow) in a cup tie. It was a hot afternoon and the game was played on a blaize pitch, the hard surface of which did not make things easy for Ian's style of play as a fast left-winger. FPs later went on to win the Scottish Cup that season and Ian was proud to have been part of that team during its progress to the final. "Not one to sit back, Ian, after a serious back operation, turned to umpiring and before long he had achieved international recognition. He was the first Scottish umpire to be awarded the International Hockey Federation crown, which qualified him to Olympic standard, and as a result he travelled widely in Europe on umpiring duty as well as numerous tournament calls in the UK. "A keen churchman, he was an elder for 50 years, initially with Cults East Church and then with Cults West. He received the Long Service Certificate from the Moderator in 1997. For relaxation Ian enjoyed hill-walking and he was a season ticket holder at Pittodrie. He loved classical music and the big band sound, enjoying attending concerts and the theatre. Of Ian it may be said that he was a quiet, unassuming character who dedicated his life to his family, job, church and sport, always intent on giving his best". He is survived by his wife, Ann, whom he married in 1988, by two sons, a daughter and two step-daughters and ten grandchildren. Ian Alexander Midleton (1945-57) CA died in Sao Paulo, Brazil in April 1999 following a long illness. After qualifying as a chartered accountant he joined the London staff of Price Waterhouse, with whom he later moved to Brazil. Subsequently he was a principal of Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young) before setting up his own consultancy practice. He is survived by his partner and two children. Theatrical Impresario Alexander Lessel Stephen Mitchell (1911-19) TD, BL died on 10 January 2000 aged 92. He left School when in Middle II, but later studied law at Aberdeen University where he graduated in 1931. He had previously been interested in theatre, and after completing his legal training he joined the Howard & Wyndham Theatre Group in London in 1937. He was one of the last of the theatrical managers who controlled London's West End from the 1930s until the late 1950s. He was quickly successful, and set up his own company one of whose early productions was Emlyn Williams' The Corn is Green at the Duchess, with Williams himself in a cast which included Dame Sybil Thomdyke. This, along with Terence Rattigan's The Browning Version had been turned down by another producer as being unlikely to run for long. Under Mitchell, both were highly successful, and he and Rattigan became close friends in a partnership which only ended with the latter's death in 1977. He served with the Gordon Highlanders during the War, returning to the West End in 1946. He then had a run ofhighly successful productions including Rattigan's Separate Tables, the old-fahioned review High Spirits, and in 1963 Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman with Donald Wolfit. Although he retired from management in the 1970s, he remained readily available to younger members of the theatrical profession with advice and guidance. He was predeceased by his wife in 1957. 93
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Ian Barclay Munro (1911-22) died peacefully in Glasgow on 3 January 2001 aged 94. He came from an Aberdeen business family and among his talents was a keen business sense. He was at one stage of his life a specialist leather-boot-maker, at another he built, and thereafter ran, squash clubs. In the late 1930s, on appreciating the nature and extent of Nazi atrocities, he became involved in anti-Nazi activities and, having concluded that the only political party which understood the threat of fascism was the communist party, he became a Marxist-communist. During the 1939-45 War he involved himself in the war effort through the aircraft construction industry. He was a leading shop steward in the engineering union, through which he became concerned in electoral campaigning and party organisation. For twenty years from the late 1940s he worked for the Daily Worker newspaper, later the Morning Star, and was active in the printworkers' union from whom he received a gold medal on retiring in 1969. In retirement he continued to involve himself in campaigning about a wide variety of issues, among them nuclear disarmament. His success in organising a Clydeside anti-nuclear Easter March in 1973 revived the then moribund Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament which he helped to build up during the 1970s. Aside from this he was deeply concerned about Scottish devolution, voluntary euthanasia, and pardons for First World War deserters executed by the military authorities. Most recently (as reported in last year's Magazine) he played a vital role in Glasgow's South East Health Forum, a patient watch-dog group fighting for the provision of a new, custom-built hospital for the South side of Glasgow. He was appointed President of the Forum in 1998. To all these, and many other issues, he brought determination, a passion for social justice and a concern for individuals. Ian is survived by his partner, two daughters and a son. Robert Garden Murray (1933-36) MBChB, MFCM, DPH died peacefully in hospital in
Stockport on 29 July 2000 aged 82. After graduating in Medicine in 1941 at Aberdeen he was a medical officer with the RAMC for four years. He held the usual house posts in Aberdeen hospitals and obtained his Diploma in Public Health in 1947. After a variety of holding posts in this field for a number of years in Scotland and England he was appointed deputy Medical Officer of Health and deputy schools medical officer for Preston in 1960. He moved as Medical Officer of Health at Rochdale in 1963. In 1976, following a reorganisation of the Health Service and Local Government in England he became Area Medical Officer to Stockport Health Authority, from which he retired three years later. He made his home in Disley, Cheshire. For many years he made an annual visit to Aberdeen, and in 1986 marked the sixtieth anniversary of his first ascent of Ben Macdhui by climbing the mountain again. He is survived by his wife, Pat, whom he married in 1945, two sons and two daughters, and by a sister in Aberdeen. Former President Andrew Stephen Noble (1939-52) MA,LL.D, FCMA, FIMA died peacefully in hospital in
London on 6 September 2000, aged 66, after a long illness. Senior Prefect, Captain of both Rugby and Cricket, Dux of the School and winner of the All-Round Trophy he went on to study at St Andrews University where in 1956 he was awarded a first class honours degree in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. While there, he was President of the Students' Union, was a member of the Rugby XV and was capped for Scottish Universities. From there he moved on to St John's College, Cambridge where, in 1958, he graduated BA having taken Part II of the Economics Tripos. In 1959 he was awarded the Diploma in Mathematical Statistics. Andrew then entered upon a career in industry. Between 1959 and 1973 he held a variety of posts with ICI. He then joined Debenhams where he had a most distinguished career. He was appointed to the main board of the company in 1976 and between 1979 and 1981 he was the Managing Director responsible for administrative services and development. From 1981 until he resigned in 1986 following the take-over of the group by the Burton Group, he was the managing director responsible for store operations and services. He was also 94
Fortner Pupils' Club Section chairman of several of Debenhams' subsidiary companies. At the same time Andrew held several important posts related to the retail trade, including the chairmanship of the British Retailers Association. He was for a time a member of the Mathematics sub-Committee of the University Grants Committee, a member of the Economic and Social Research Council and of the Council of Manchester Business School. He continued to have an active role in various business enterprises until his health deteriorated in the months prior to his death. Andrew was elected President of the FP Club in March 1986, and no-one who was present will forget his stirring and encouraging speech at the School Prize-giving that year, coming just days after the School had been devastated by fire. He had long been a loyal member of the London Centre, of which he was a former President, and for many years he extended hospitality to the visiting office-bearers from Aberdeen on the occasion of the London Centre Dinner. Andrew is survived by his wife, Margaret, whom he met while both were Arts students at St Andrews, and by a daughter and two sons. Kenneth Jamieson Peters (1929-41) CBE, DL, FRSA, FSA(Scot) died suddenly at his home in Aberdeen on 25 September 2000 aged 77. Captain of cricket for Dun House and a fine batting record for the School XI in 1940-41 were a strong base for an involvement with FP Cricket in years to come. After war service with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders he joined the staff of the Evening Express in Aberdeen as a sub-editor, at the same time contributing a sports column to the Daily Record. He moved to Glasgow as a sub-editor with Kemsley Newspapers, returning to Aberdeen in 1951 as assistant to the editor of the Evening Express, later assistant editor, and in 1953 he became editor. During 1956-60 he was editor of the Press & Journal. He was appointed general manager of Aberdeen Journals in 1960, joined the board the following year and from 1964 until 1983 was managing director. He later served as chairman of the company. He headed the management team which changed the fortunes of Aberdeen Journals in the 1960s and was regarded as a tremendous ambassador for the group in both a local and a national context. He was twice president of the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and was a former member of the Press Council. He was appointed CBE in 1979 in recognition of his services to journalism. Ken's interests went beyond the newspaper world: he was a Burgess of Guild of Aberdeen, a deputy Lord Lieutenant of the city, a Justice of the Peace, held office at various times in the Aberdeen Publicity Club, Aberdeen Civic Society, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and was closely associated for several years with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry). Ken had a long association with the FP Cricket Section: in 1951 he was captain of the Section's Strathmore XI and was opening batsman. In 1961 he was elected President of the Section. For a number of years from 1958 he served on the FP Club Executive Committee. Ken is survived by his wife, Arunda, whom he married forty-nine years ago. George Gordon Allan (1939-51), a colleague of Ken on both Aberdeen papers in the 1950s writes: "I went straight from School into the Evening Express as a trainee journalist in 1951 and Ken, then the features editor, was my first boss. He was a man of many enthusiasms which he loved to communicate to others, and this was especially so in sport. One day, he asked me, a mere stripling of 17, out of the blue whether I would be willing to umpire in a Strathmore Union cricket match involving FPs at Brechin. I had never umpired before, but said 'Yes' and, despite one or two dubious decisions, went on to stand in other matches. Ken was a rugby man, too. The School had an unbeaten team that same year (Ernie Michie, Ron Comber et al) and 1 remember Ken telling me once to drop whatever I was doing in the office and accompany him to Rubislaw to watch them in action". Robert Gray Sangster (1919-30) CBE, BSc(For) died peacefully in Edinburgh on 5 February 2001 aged 88. He graduated from Aberdeen University in 1933 and won the Sutherland Gold Medal in Forestry. He was awarded a scholarship from the Colonial Office to study tropical forestry at Oxford for a year, and after further research work with the Forestry Commission in Edinburgh he joined the Colonial Forest Service as assistant conservator of forests in Uganda. He was called up in 1940 and was commissioned in East 95
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
African Command, where following a year as welfare officer to native troops he transferred to the Intelligence Service and edited an army official newsletter. Back in Uganda, he was President of the Caledonian Society of Uganda in 1951-52, succeeding another FP in that office and having a third FP as Treasurer of the Society. In 1952 he moved to Morogoro, Tanganyika as conservator of forests. When he retired in 1965, as Chief Conservator of Forest for Tanzania, he had completed thirty years in forestry in Africa, and had been a representative at two Commonwealth forestry conferences, one world forestry conference and had served on the Forestry Commission for Africa. His long service was recognised in 1966 when he was appointed CBE. From 1966 to 1978 he was secretary of the Scottish Woodland Owners Association in Edinburgh, where he spent his retirement. He was predeceased by his wife and son, but he is survived by his daughter-in-law and his three grandchildren. Alexander Runcie Smith (1922-26) died peacefully in a nursing home near Aberdeen on 12 August 2000 aged 89. After serving an apprenticeship in shipyards and at sea he took over the firm of Pine & Smith in Aberdeen which he ran as senior partner for the rest of his working life. He was a naval architect, engineer and marine surveyor. He was superintendent of the North boats and looked after the fishing fleet in the North-east of Scotland. In his younger days he was a club tennis player, and latterly was a golfer and bowler. He was survived by his wife, who has since died, and by his son Alistair Runcie Smith (1946-61) and a daughter. His brothers also attended the School - William Panton Smith (1920-25) and Sydney Robertson Smith (1924-30). Ranald Fyfe Findlay Steven (1933-43) MB,ChB died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 9 February 2001 aged 75 after a short illness. Senior Prefect in 1942-43, a leading member of the 1st XV, Vice-captain of Cricket, Captain of Athletics and Tennis and Open individual sports champion for two successive years gives an idea of the school-boy Rannie Steven. His future promise was heralded by his being joint winner of the Norman Mackie Memorial Prize in 1940. At Aberdeen University, where he studied Medicine, his sporting prowess continued and he was a triple Blue in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. He graduated in 1949 and after the usual hospital house posts and service as a medical officer in the RAMC he became a general practitioner in Aberdeen, highly respected and popular. Rannie had an association with Aberdeenshire Cricket Club going back nearly forty years. He was coach to the under-13 team from 1965 until 1999, during which time these young players were Scottish champions ten times. In recognition of his devoted service to the Club he was made honorary president in 1986. He was unmarried, but is survived by his two brothers, Robert Clement Steven (1933-41) and Andrew Marshall Macdonald Steven (1936-50). Kenneth Ian Sutherland (1937-45) MB,ChB, MRCGP died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 16 August 2000 aged 71. Joint runner-up for the 5th Year Town Council Silver Medal and a Prefect he went on to study Medicine at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1950. He was an assistant in a general practice at New Deer before joining as junior partner in a practice at Hull, whose other partners were all Aberdeen graduates. In 1960 he returned to the North-east to take over the single-handed practice at Udny. He broke new ground by pioneering "post- qualifying training" by setting up a series of seminars at which consultants from Aberdeen discussed their fields of expertise with a group of Buchan GPs. The Udny practice expanded considerably to seven partners, and a new, modem surgery was opened at Scotstown Medical Centre, Bridge of Don. Dr Sutherland retired in 1993. Bruce Drummond Taylor (1919-31) MB,ChB died peacefully in a nursing home at Aberdeen on 5 April 2001 aged 88. After graduating in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1936 he was for a time a house surgeon at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill. After a spell as house officer at the then Emergency Medical Service Hospital at Stracathro in the early war years he had a number of assistant and locum appointments before entering general practice in Wembley in 1953. He retired in 1976 and returned to live in Aberdeen. 96
Former Pupils' Club Section Rugby Stalwart Hugh William Lawrie Thomas (1948-56) died suddenly at his home in Lytham, Lancashire on 3 October 2000 following hospital treatment after a motor cycle accident a few weeks earlier. A Prefect and a formidable athlete, he captained the School 1st XV before playing for FPs, North/Midlands and having a final trial for Scotland at the amazingly early age, for a prop forward, of 19. When he moved to Lancashire in connection with his employment as a trade representative he became a stalwart of Fylde Rugby Football Club and represented Lancashire on numerous occasions in a career spanning thirty years. He set up and operated a successful antique courier business covering the North of England, Scotland, London and the continent. Hugh is survived by his wife, Liz, and by three children from his first marriage. Charlie Ritchie (1945-51) writes: "I knew Hugh from his schooldays, and retained that friendship until his untimely death. He will be missed by many people throughout Scotland and the Fylde area, where his gregarious eccentricity and ability as a bon viveur and raconteur was greatly appreciated. Despite the outward appearance, he was a courteous, soft-hearted giant and an extremely knowledgeable rugby man who loved the game's amateur ideals, but despised the modem professional era". William Eddie Spalding Thomson (1920-32) MA died in Glasgow on 23 April 2000 aged 86. He was the son of Rev. James Laing Thomson (1894-96), minister at Peterculter from 1905 to 1948, whose father had been a teacher at the School when it was in Schoolhill. After graduating with honours at Aberdeen University in 1936 and holding various posts in the Natural Philosophy department of the University he became scientific and technical editor with Mackie & Son Ltd, publishers in Glasgow in 1946. He retired in 1979. His brother Dr James Laing Spalding Thomson (1920-27) was in general practice in London. Horace Walker (1922-28) OBE, MA, BD, DD died in Edinburgh on 5 December 1994 aged 84. He graduated from Aberdeen University with an honours degree in Classics in 1932 and then in Divinity in 1935. While an undergraduate he took part in the Students' Show. He was ordained at Aberdeen in 1935 and for the following three years was engaged as General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement in Scotland. After a brief spell as assistant at St Mary's, Dundee, he was inducted to West Port Church, Hawick in 1939. Five years later he was called to Hilton High Church in Aberdeen. Three years later he was appointed Secretary-Depute to the Church of Scotland Home Board, in which capacity he was heavily involved in the post-war drive for Church Extension charges. He became Secretary to the Board in 1957 and retired in 1977, continuing to live in Edinburgh. He was honoured with his Doctorate in 1967 and was appointed OBE in 1978. Dr Walker is survived by his wife and two daughters. The Editor very much regrets that this Obituary appears so long after the event, but this death only came to notice as a result of the new mailing system which was introduced last year. John Scott Watson (1972-77) MA died suddenly, while on holiday in Thailand, on 28 May 2000 at the age of 40. Despite the onset of diabetes shortly before sitting his `Highers', he obtained his best grading in Art & Design. After study at the then Gray's School of Art he was awarded a diploma in Art, Drawing and Painting in 1981 and a post diploma with high commendation the following year. Having been awarded two scholarships and several prizes in open competition he moved to London where his work was accepted for exhibition and publication. In 1986 he completed a post-graduate course in Illustration at the Royal College of Art. Thereafter he developed a career as an author and illustrator of children's books, being the MacMillan Prizewinner in 1986, and also as a freelance illustrator in the press and in magazines. He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter. His elder brother is Alan David Watson (1958-65) 97
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Robert Alexander Watt (1946-49) died at Aberdeen on 6 September 2000 aged 67. His early education was at the former Demonstration School in the city before his family moved to Insch. There he was Dux of the Higher Grade School before coming to the Grammar in 1946. He was for a time a scientific assistant at Torry Research Station before spending two years' National Service with the Royal Navy as a Leading Coder (Special), in the course of which he became a fluent Russian speaker. In 1956 he joined the Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen, where he was employed as a Scientific Assistant until retiring in 1992. He enjoyed writing verse, and a selection, published around twenty years ago under the heading of "The Gailley Loon,- received very favourable reviews for "its mature grasp of the native vernacular". For several years he was a contributor to BBC radio programmes, and he used to recall that his first stage appearance was in a minor role with lain Cuthbertson (194648) and Stephen A.C. Robertson (1939-51) He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter and two grand-daughters. James Mitchell Williamson (1948-51) died peacefully in a nursing home near Aberdeen on 20 August 2000 aged 57. He was the son of the late James Campbell Williamson (192434) He went from the School to Lathallan Preparatory School. On leaving school he joined his father in A.R. Gray Ltd., wholesale grocers in Aberdeen. In 1972 the firm merged with A.B. Chalmers (Inverness) as Abemess Foods, and he continued as a director of the new company. When the Phoenix Youth Club was established in Aberdeen some years ago he acted as an adviser and was heavily involved in the initial stages of the Club. He was for many years a member of the Aberdeen Archery Club and represented Scotland in Archery at the Paraplegic Commonwealth Games in Jamaica in 1966. He retired from business a few of years ago. He is survived by his wife, Josie.
Former Members of Staff Alexander James Duncan died suddenly in hospital at Aberdeen on 20 January 2001 aged 76. He was a member of staff of the Technical Department for several years, retiring in June 1989. He is survived by his wife and daughter. David Matthew died peacefully in a nursing home in Aberdeen on 3 April 2001 aged 91. He was Groundsman at Rubislaw for several years until his retiral in 1974. During his period in charge he worked very hard to keep up the high standards set by his predecessors and took great pride in so doing. He was considerate, willing to work outside his normal duties, and ever ready to help teams, whether of School or Club, in whatever way he could. He was always their best supporter and his pawky sense of humour was much appreciated. Mrs Matthew died a few years ago, but he is survived by his daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
98
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2000 Former Pupils' Club Income and Expenditure Account 2000 £
1999 £
1,543 693 306
1,289 20 116
921 1,404
939 -
3,500 1,027 739 1,178 1,097 362 13 12,783
3,500 202 739 1,389 (535) 27 7,686
EXPENDITURE Membership Communications Newsletters - Printing, stationery & postage 661 Special General Meeting 526 Membership Correspondence, stationery & postage 272 4,796 Magazine - Printing, stationery and postage (3,740) Less: Advertising & Donations Printing, stationery & postage - other 1,190 Honoraria 3,500 1,275 Travel and accommodation Capitation Grants to Centres 785 256 School - Prize-giving 1,000 School - Amenities Fund School - Prefects' Badges 378 Accountancy Fee 593 Corporation Tax 240 Legal Fees, Council Tax 431 421 Miscellaneous 12,584
4,718 (3,720) 517 3,500 1,197 520 249 500 558 150 358 8,547
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR
(861)
INCOME Subscriptions Existing Members - Annual New Members - Annual & Extended Arrears Life Members Transfer from Life Members' Account Top-up Payments Donations Club Centre Other Dividends Interest Fund Raising - Beyond 500 Social Events - Surplus/(Deficit) Miscellaneous
100
-199
Former Pupils' Club Section
Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2000 2000
1999
£
£
HERITABLE PROPERTY
113,969
113,644
INVESTMENTS
13,292
13,292
373 11,433 40,000 80,822 132,628
434 7,512 13,075 21,021
91,810 100,000 1,596 5,618 14, 429 213,453
91,810 834 10, 376 103,020
(80,825)
(81,999)
46,436
44,937
17,495 1,923 1,050 20,468
17,841 1,923 1,050 20,814
1,119 772 3,578 6,670 13.829
972 696 2,338 6,487 13.630
25,968
24.123
46,436
44,937
CURRENT ASSETS Stock Debtors Club Centre - Benefactor Loan Drawdown Bank Accounts
CURRENT LIABILITIES Club Centre Loan Benefactor Loan Subscriptions in advance Life Member Top-up Payments Creditors
NET CURRENT LIABILITIES
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Life Members Robert G. Wilson Bequest Miss Isabella Grant Bequest
REVENUE ACCOUNTS Robert G. Wilson Bequest Miss Isabella Grant Bequest Beyond 500 Centenary General
101
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2000 F.P. Club Centre Income and Expenditure Account 1999 f
f
f
BAR ACCOUNT 109,670
114,359
BAR SALES
5,484 60.687
COST OF SALES Stock on Hand at 31 December 1999 Bar Purchases
5,067 58,261
Less Stock on Hand at 31 December 2000
63,328 4,749
66,171 5,067 61,104 53,255 10,813 6,753 213 2,531 12 73,577 31,052 19,972 16,124 522 1,669 3,500 630 1,458 1,796 7,460 5,500 4,663 1,798 96,144 (22,567) (22,567)
58, 579 51,091
GROSS PROFIT MISCELLANEOUS INCOME Annual Subscriptions Gaming Machine Revenue (Net) Snooker and Pool Miscellaneous Income Interest Received (Net) OVERHEAD EXPENSES Wages and National Insurance Rates and Insurance Heating and Lighting Telephone (Net) Repairs and Maintenance Donation to Former Pupils' Club Other Donation Bank Interest Interest Payable to Former Pupils' Club Administration Expenses Cleaning Honoraria Miscellaneous Expenses Depreciation
11,127 4,948 261 2,939 18 70,384 17,458 19,992 7,708 676 8,351 3,500 630 1,710 316 1,484 7,334 5,500 4,878 1,560 81,097 (10,713)
DEFICIT FOR YEAR Prior Year Adjustment for Electricity Refund
15.561
SURPLUS AFTER ADJUSTMENT
4.848
102
Former Pupils' Club Section
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2000 1999
As per last Balance Sheet £ 1,395 8,800
FIXED ASSETS £ 1,395 8,800
Furniture and Fittings Equipment
10,195
10.195
91,810 5,067 3,064 250 100, 191
39,144 17,821 6,706
Added during Year £ 250
Depcn. £ 210 1,350
£ 1,185 7,700
250
1,560
8,885
CURRENT ASSETS Loan Account - AGSFP Club Stock in Hand Sundry Debtors Cash in Bank Cash in Hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES Sundry Creditors Bank Overdraft Subscriptions in Advance
63,671 36,520
91,810 4,479 18,119 4,342 1,513 120,533
34,627
-
6,853 41,480 79,053
46,715
9,300 17,000 26,300
87,938 LOANS AGSFP Rugby Section Tennent Caledonian Breweries plc AGSFP Club
6,300 16,375 40,000 62,675
20.415
NET ASSETS
25,263
13,495
CAPITAL ACCOUNT Appeal Fund & Other Donations
13,495
6,920
SURPLUSES Amount per last Balance Sheet Surplus for Year
6,920 4,848 11.768 25,263
20,415
103
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